The Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) and the American Institute of Architects California awarded three HMC Architects’ projects with C.A.S.H./AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards at the CASH Annual Conference in Palm Springs, California. Del Oro High School and San Benito High School each won an Award of Honor and El Rodeo Elementary School won an Award of Merit.

Del Oro High School

Award of Honor, New Built

A 77-acre canvas in Bakersfield, California, has transformed into an innovative high school fostering sustainability, student well-being, and empowerment for at-risk learners to reach their full potential. Kern High School District (KHSD) is reshaping the future of education for its students and community with Del Oro High School. The new campus encompasses 200,000 SF of innovative student instruction spaces and services, supporting the growth and development of 2,500 students. Every aspect of student life has been thoughtfully considered, from administration and counseling to food service, performing arts, and athletic programs. The campus center building is a vibrant hub, housing the library and cafeteria while facilitating community engagement. With its 600-seat theater, the performing arts center sits proudly at the public-facing corner, serving as a beacon of light, engaging the public to participate in captivating performances and events. The shared athletics complex offers modern facilities, including a three-court gym, locker rooms, sports fields, and a future-planned aquatic center. These well-designed spaces foster collaboration, creativity, and student pride. At the core of the new campus’s design philosophy lies the concept of NextGen learning environments. The goal was to create fluid learning spaces that adapt to different educational delivery methods, group sizes, and technology integration. Flexible interior and exterior spaces provide opportunities for collaboration and accommodate diverse learning styles and programs. Maker spaces and collaboration areas are incubators for creativity and innovation, empowering students to think critically and problem-solve. The use of glass walls in the flexible interior space not only incites curiosity in passing students but also promotes an open and transparent learning environment that fosters a sense of interconnectedness and collaboration within the school community.

San Benito High School

Award of Honor, Project in Design

Founded in 1895, the San Benito High School District (SBHSD) serves 3,539 students in Hollister, California, 40 miles south of the innovative Silicon Valley. Hollister High School is the district’s only high school committed to helping all students discover a passion for learning and their full potential. Over the past several years, SBHSD has engaged in dialogue with the community about how best to manage the school’s growing enrollment and, in 2022, announced plans for a second high school.

The rich history and context of the site inspire our project. We aim to create a place that cherishes its deep-rooted culture and connection to the land while empowering future leaders to soar. This “Roots and Wings” concept influences the campus master plan and architecture, guiding our design to harmonize tradition with innovation in profound and meaningful ways. The base of the building is made from concrete blocks expressed as layers of sedimentary rock to ground the building and provide a resilient base, allowing the wing-like roofs to fly as they slope to the north to enable clerestory windows to orchestrate and diffuse daylight into the learning spaces. Raised planters/seat walls, integrated native landscaping, and green screens provide layers of protection and natural beauty, further grounding the buildings to the site. Phasing strategically positions the project for future expansion based on additional needs and the ability to secure additional funding. Phase one will accommodate 1200 students and 46 teaching stations. Ultimately, the campus will house up to 2400 students.

El Rodeo Elementary School

Award of Merit, Modernization

El Rodeo Elementary School is a testament to the delicate balance between heritage and progress. Established in the heart of Beverly Hills in 1927, this facility has undergone a transformation that embraces modernity while honoring its storied past. The historic modernization and seismic retrofit project sought to preserve the school’s Spanish Renaissance Revival facades and iconic dome, ensuring that every detail, from intricate ceiling designs to ornate molding, remained untouched by time.

This project, funded by Measure BH, with an initial budget of $153 million, involved seismic retrofitting and modernization of the five buildings comprising the 118,000 SF El Rodeo campus. This highly complex project was divided into seven phases: selective demolition, asbestos abatement, erosion control, heating and air conditioning work, historical cast stone and exterior ornamental tile restoration, and theater restoration. In addition to preserving the historic elements, we restored the 673-seat auditorium to replicate the original ceiling, provided new seating, and incorporated modern audio-visual systems. Additional upgrades included fire alarm and fire protection systems, new HVAC systems, electrical upgrades, new pathways and paving, shade structures, and landscaping.

Since 1991, CASH and the American Institute of Architects, California have held the Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards to recognize excellence in school facilities design. The awards were presented at a special ceremony at the CASH annual conference.