AS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, LOS ANGELES OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF LIFE STYLES EVEN AS IT REMAINS IN CONSTANT STATE OF EVOLUTION. IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LOS AGELES, WITHIN ITS TRADITIONAL DENSE CORE, THE EMERGING SOUTH PARK RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT WILL CREATE THE NEED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL REQUIRE THE RETHINKING OF THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL TYPOLOGY.

    THE HIGH DENSITY ZONING OF SOUTH PARK ALLOWS FOR MIDRISE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, CONTINUING THE PATTERN OF ESCALATING LAND VALUES. JANE JACOBS, IN THE BOOK THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES, GIVES EVIDENCE THAT THE FUTURE SURVIVAL OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY REQUIRES DIVERSITY AND, MOST IMPORTANT, THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN. THIS PROJECT OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL WILL PROVIDE A RICH AND DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND AN EDUCATIONAL FOCAL POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL WILL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT FOR REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, NIGHT SCHOOL, AND RENTAL MEETING SPACES TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY.
   
    THE ARCHITECTURE INTENT FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE A SCHOOL TYPOLOGY THAT BRINGS THE QUALITIES OF A HORIZONTAL CAMPUS TO A VERTICAL ORGANIZATION. CONVENTIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DESIGN, EVEN EXISTING INNER CITY ONES, HAD THE LUXURY OF AFFORDABLE LAND, ALLOWING FOR 2 TO 3 STORY STRUCTURES. THE HORIZONTAL PLAN IS NOT VIABLE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE LAND VALUE IS HIGH. THIS PROJECT EXPLORES THE MULTI-STORY SECTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE DIVERSE SPACE TYPES, COMMUNICATING CIRCULATION SYSTEMS AND OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.