Metal Architecture, Jan 2021

40 METAL ARCHITECTURE January 2021 metalarchitecture com TOP HONORS Expansion shows schools pursuit of educational excellence A New School Identity PHOTO COSTEA PHOTOGRAPHY INC By Marcy Marro Editor Tarbut VTorah TVT is a private K 12 school in Irvine Calif Its 215 acre campus was designed in the early 1990s when it served a strictly Jewish population In 2013 the schools trustees developed a strategic vision to focus on student directed hands on learning LPA Inc Irvine was brought in early to co develop a program that responded to that vision creating a school site master plan and create a future ready learning environment The school had a clear goal of becoming a premier educational destination in the state explains Ozzie Tapia project designer with LPA In its pursuit of excellence TVT embarked on an effort to revamp and strengthen its curriculum to reflect 21st century learning concepts and provide programs geared toward emerging technologies To represent the schools invigorated approach to education the program added three new buildings a maker building a STEAM building and a fitness building to provide spaces that promote critical thinking creativity and a balanced lifestyle While the original campus design featured materials such as Jerusalem stone and sand colored plaster which have evoked specific religious and regional connotations the new buildings use timeless materials such as brushed metal and glass The new expansion leverages the concept of campus building explains Tapia complimenting the existing architecture in terms of massing and planning while also conveying a unique identity reflective of TVTs pursuit of educational excellence through timeless and elegant materials brushed metal and glass The new materials were chosen for their transparent reflective qualities allowing students to literally see themselves through the buildings or reflected on their school environment adds Tapia This move creates everyday moments that put students at the center of their educational experience reinforcing diversity and inclusion Since one of the biggest challenges was finding available land to build on campus the new buildings are split between the schools lower K 5 and upper campus 6 12 To maintain a balanced activity offering the school did not want to diminish usable outdoor open space or fields The solution was to break down the program into separate buildings that transform underutilized planter areas and landscaped slopes into purposeful learning social environments says Tapia The disturbed landscape was replaced with a demonstration green roof and outdoor classroom spaces The siting of new buildings complements the existing campus courtyard layout On the upper campus the two story 20000 square foot STEAM building frames a new quad for the older students while defining a campus entry from an adjacent community center The Maker Building sits on the lower campus adjacent to the schools library The learning environment is organized around shared commons and a teaming room while focusing on project based learning and design thinking The fitness building is tucked into a landscaped slope that leads to the upper campus and can be accessed by stairs or sliding boards that deliver students to its entrance A green roof and demonstration garden captures direct water runoff Because of the schools proximity to the ocean and mild climate ideas of seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces natural lighting and ventilation were the foundations of the projects design Tapia says These classic concepts paired with the innovative program requirements create a 21st century learning environment fitting its Southern California location For the project the designers opted to use a total of 18420 square feet of ALPOLIC aluminum composite material from Mitsubishi Chemical Composites America Inc Chesapeake Va The panels have four finishes brushed aluminum stainless steel reflective and prismatic The STEAM Building measures 12200 square feet the Maker Building 5110 square feet and the fitness building 1110 square feet Since the buildings opening the school has added 120 students with its largest Kindergarten enrollment ever in 2018 and an enrollment increase of over 5 that continued for the 2019 20 school year And for the schools efforts to achieve academic excellence the school received the maximum accreditation length of seven years Award 2020 AIA Education Facility Design Excellence Award Architect LPA Inc Irvine lpadesignstudios com Metal wall panels Mitsubishi Chemical Composites America Inc Chesapeake Va www alpolic americas com Circle 46 Tarbut VTorah K 12 Campus Expansion Irvine Calif Fitness Building