Each pavilion utilizes the ancient structural principle of arch geometry, as well as folded origami like planes to create its efficient yet expansive form. The application of locally harvested Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and precise joinery via the CNC manufacturing process produces a lightweight and extremely rigid shell structure with minimal surface, saving time and overall embodied energy impact. Panels will be fabricated and cut in the factory, shipped to the site and assembled; a process ensuring high quality and optimization. We find comfort in utilizing a material that sequesters carbon and is a renewable resource. It is the only truly sustainable material because it regrows itself.

Why did we incorporate a meadow? Because we wanted to start the discussion about the role of conservation, respect and restoration of the natural world in high school curricula. The proposal features mainly California-native plants that require little water or maintenance. The landscape design includes several green strategies, such as rainwater storage in an underground cistern, vegetated roofs at the Administration, and native habitat throughout the site. We propose to establish an onsite meadow preservation committee consisting of district leaders, horticultural experts, and biologists to select, cultivate and irrigate for a minimum of two years to ensure the landscape is well-established and sustained. The meadow aims to become a source of pride and research for students and the community.

Every pavilion, no matter the size, is paired with an equal or larger square footage of outdoor learning and activity space. As indicated in the heat island diagram, all of these exterior spaces enjoy the benefit of building and landscaped shading. Away from the proximity of the pavilions are additional larger open multi-use areas, allowing for substantial expansion of learning possibilities.

School spirit comes in many forms. Providing correctly sized spaces for larger congregations, such as the centrally located ‘Plateau of Productivity’, activates student interaction and school spirit type events, such as pep rallies. Smaller, more intimate clearings harken to a simpler time and slower pace more focused on the present. The campfire effect.

School spirit can also come in the form of the conservation and stewardship of the land. Evoking pride of place and ownership of your school, where respect for the environment takes center stage.

How does growing up in this nomadic learning environment shape a student’s AND educator’s contribution to the world and affect lives positively and holistically?

To unearth the core of what our future world changers need, we must be willing to create larger scale real-time human interaction through shifts in the social and physical distribution of knowledge.

Many schools attempt to create new learning space by injecting ‘flexible learning areas’ into their campuses, yet do not provide them at a scale in which large portions of the population can participate.

Digital learning space attempts to span distances yet lacks true connection, a crucial part of the development of the social child. A nomadic class focuses on forging new experiences and connections through unexpected encounters and looseness reflecting real-life interaction. Whether this nomadic educational delivery is phased in slowly or unveiled at full capacity, this model will have profound effects.

By definition, a nomad must work together to survive. What else can we as a team imagine within this nomadic mindset?

Another level of performance to consider other than material and energy is embodied carbon, or the amount of energy to manufacture , procur, construct and maintain. .We have curated a building materials palette to minimize the cradle-to-gate, or source to construction site embodied energy/carbon, such as timber, rammed earth plenum walls, Minimal to no reliance on artificial lighting and HVAC equipment play a role in reducing carbon footprint during the life-cycle of the building. These strategies, even when implemented, only go so far. To achieve carbon neutrality from cradle-to-grave the project would require carbon offsets. We are excited to explore concepts for District-wide carbon offset program. One such concept is to commandeer vacant or underutilized District property to plant artificial forests to sequester carbon with potential use as building stock for future facility construction.

Efficient use of water in Southern California, where this project is set is crucial, and the project's goal is to provide a prototype for water conservation, balancing water demand and water resources. Recognizing waters increased scarcity, we propose to utilize drought-tolerant native plants and a series of techniques - including a specially designed meadow retention and filtration system using bioswales, to treat rainwater on-site and limit the amount of excess water going into the storm drain system. Rainwater is captured from the roofs and stored in an underground tank for irrigation. Additional water for irrigation comes from blending tanks where a balanced mixture of potable and reclaimed water is maintained to best meet the watering needs of the native vegetation. The use of permeable paving stones and decomposed granite walkways allow for excess water to percolate into the soil. Reclaimed water, in conjunction with a local Water District, is used to flush toilets and for site irrigation.

Early visioning discussions revealed the existing solar array system fulfills approximately 80% of the site's power requirements. Replacing the Administration and Library with buildings pulling dramatically lower energy loads, even with the additional co-learning pavilions it is anticipated the existing solar array system capacity will accommodate the new development. Additional arrays, if needed for future development, are to remain within the parking areas.

In addition to the Pavilion's new passive air conditioning system, the climate is controlled using strategic site shading and a thermal mass system. All sunny south facades are retained up to 6 feet above the finish floor to utilize the thermal mass of the earth to cool the occupied spaces and provide a more consistent interior comfortable temperature. The pavilions are pitched upwards toward the north for a variety of reasons. The shape of the form helps drive air upward toward the north facade, where controlled operable windows incorporate the venturi effect, allowing convection to drive the passive system. Augmenting thermal material characteristics of structural CLT skin system also plays a large part in the design. Further, the elevation of the north facade maximizes the amount of outdoor shaded area, activating a multitude of learning areas and encouraging outdoor activity. Glazing is utilized only on the north face, where it is most effective to provide ample natural indirect light and views.

The projects existing hot and chilled water system, and the possibility of tieing this new development to that system, carries some upfront cost benefits, although the long-term reliance on natural gas makes this a less favorable option due to reliance on non-renewable resources. The priority of reducing energy loads through passive low-tech strategies would require a supplemental HVAC system sized to these minimal loads, such as the proposed ground source heat pump. This system runs on electrical, renewable resources, tieing into the project’s idea of Circular Ecology. Other opportunities to explore renewable resources carrying long-term minimization of environmental impact could include fuel cell technology.

The carbon footprint, passively heated and cooled spaces, restorative landscape, and human health and wellness play an important role in seeing this project as a circular ecology. The school is a living organism of human interaction, nature, and the built environment symbiotically coexisting. We have created an environment where these connections are strikingly apparent.

Look it up. It’s cool! Urban development and harmful agricultural practices continue to hinder soil’s ability to sequester from the atmosphere and hold carbon, especially in southern and central California. The project’s bio-meadow, deemed the ‘Slope of Enlightenment’, will serve as an outdoor laboratory and physical manifestation for healthy, carbon-rich soil.