| The vision of San Bernardino City Unified School District was to create a unique program for the students and surrounding community at the San Andreas High School campus while offering opportunities for learning pertaining to hydroponics and soil-free growing. In addition to learning about this unique way of producing food, the program provided an opportunity to teach the students and their families about healthier food options, while adding fresh vegetables to the school’s food service program.
The first phase of the project converted an old locker building into an interactive hydroponic learning lab. The second phase of the project developed the adjacent pavement into an outdoor learning and growing nursery for food processing and storage, which included a greenhouse for large-scale food production and plant care.
The interactive classroom space was outfitted with a state-of-the-art HVAC system that could regulate the humidity required for plant growth and still accommodate student comfort. Durable materials were used throughout the space to accommodate hydroponics instruction and learning, with epoxy resin flooring and high-gloss waterproof wall finishes for faster, safer, and easier cleanup. The mechanized clerestory windows provided controllable natural light that could be adjusted based on the needs of the classroom environment and the growing environment.
The greenhouse, outdoor nursery, and teaching areas incorporate many sustainable features within the design. A large evaporative cooling wall within the greenhouse keeps the temperature within ideal ranges for the plants to thrive while also reducing the energy output of a traditional cooling system. The greenhouse roof can open and allow fresh air to circulate based on the specific needs of the plants. In the outdoor nursery and learning areas, a perforated metal panel system offers filtered light through the roof coverings for plant growth yet provides adequate shade for learning and food preparation out of direct sunlight. The orientation of the entire project was designed around the sun’s east/west pathways, allowing for optimal natural light throughout the year to enter the interactive classroom, outdoor nursery, and greenhouse.
New opportunities to partner with local restaurants, school districts, and community programs are now on the horizon as the program continues to grow and flourish. With the District’s vision of empowering its students in hands-on gardening, entrepreneurial skills, vocational skills, and education about healthful food now realized, the Growing Hope Project at San Andreas High School delivers a full and exciting learning experience “from seed to sell.”
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