Context
Jefferson Elementary school anchors a single-story residential neighborhood west of Grand Blvd., the circle and former racetrack that famously marks Corona. We needed to be respectful of our neighbors, safeguard the historic Administration Building and yet, announce the fact that a major improvement to their area was in the works.
Program/Scope
1) Maintain and refresh the existing 1927 Administration and 1928 Library Buildings.
2) Enlarge the existing park-like setting by preserving existing mature oaks and including turf/drought resistant plantings.
3) Enlarge the existing parking lot to provide more spaces for staff and visitors, including a bus and parent drop-off loops.
4) Relocate the Kindergarten Building to the front of the campus closer to main parking lot and parent drop off.
5) Create a main organizational axis (North/South) leading from main parking lot to the south playfields.
6) Maintain a secondary axis (East/West) from the secondary Vicentia Ave. parking lot to the MPR from the east side of campus.
7) Include "breakout" areas throughout the campus as places to informally gather.
8) Incorporate landscaping and maintain sustainable plantings as outdoor shade sources.
Budget/Cost
“Construction of the one-story, five-room stacked concrete school at 1040 S. Vicentia Ave. cost $23,800, was designed by W. Horace Austin and was finished in December 1927…” read the Press Enterprise article. In contrast to the historic 9,100 sq. ft. 1927 building constructed at $2.60 per square foot, we were adding 19,182 sq. ft. plus a permanent relocatable wing of 9,147 sq. ft. for a cost of about $656 per square foot. Our budget started at $16 million but was approved upward to $20 million.
Special Challenges/Unusual Characteristics
As with many educational projects, the school had to continue to function, with the student population present, while undergoing construction. The unique challenge with Jefferson Elementary is that we had to juggle students from one side of the campus to the opposite side, provide a site for eight interim housing modular buildings, as well as demolish existing aging modulars while tearing out many square feet of concrete. We proposed two solutions: a phased demolition and a complete demolition and subsequent construction. The District chose a phased demolition schedule.
Solution/Design
This design exercise proved to be an exciting challenge. Our analysis showed us that Jefferson Elementary School's site acreage is sufficient to allow for single-story classroom buildings - not only because there is enough turf and play field areas - but because the surrounding neighborhood context is inconsistent with two-story structures. So not infringing too much on the green open space of the play fields was nice.
Sustainable Design/Resiliency
What better way to practice sustainability than to rejuvenate an historic building, rather than razing it and building anew? We were reminded of the need to pursue historic preservation: not only is the 1927 building beautiful and worthy of rejuvenation, but this is also an opportunity to practice architectural sustainability and model for the students, staff and community how simple sustainability can be and how it can be incorporated into everyday life and work. |
