August 2003

Ran: CASH Register - August 2003

WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Poway Unified School District

Poway, California

Contact: Doug Mann

Contractor: Douglas E. Barnhart

PROJECT SUMMARY:
The school's architecture is organized as a series of formal building types. Large curved roof forms enclose the primary public spaces while shed forms define the smaller repetitive classroom units. Covered walkways are treated as arcades and provide sheltered access between each building. Buildings vary in scale from one-story structures and loft spaces to a two-story research complex. Campus buildings are arranged radially to foster a sense of connectedness for students and staff alike. A commons area at the core of the campus is ringed by a pedestrian boulevard designed to encourage interaction among students. Interior spaces throughout the project are designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate changes dictated by future information and communication needs. As a major presence within this new community, the district sought a school where architecture spoke to the future of education as an unexplored, challenging adventure that while basic and fun remains an extremely powerful link to the 21st century.

At 221,150 square feet, Westview serves grades 9 through 12. It is designed with 45 Standard Classrooms, 12 Science Labs, 5 Special Education Classrooms, 5 Art Labs, 2 Music Classrooms, 1 Drama Classroom, 11 Vocational Education Classrooms/Labs, 1 ASB Classroom, 6 Physical Education Classrooms, a Research Center, Gymnasium, Shower & Locker Facilities, Performing Arts Complex, Administrative Facilities, Food Service, and miscellaneous support facilities.

Westview is designed to meet the demands of the 21st century. At the core of the school's design are four essential elements of learning, including connectedness, flexibility, collaboration, and communication. The radial layout of the campus instills a sense of connectedness between all of the core elements. A two-story crescent-shaped building fronts the campus consisting of Administrative & Staff Support areas, Food Service Facilities, Research & Development Labs, and the Research Center on the upper story. Central staff support areas allow staff to collaborate in creating cross-curricular educational materials. Flexible space planning in the Research & Development Labs allows outreach to the business community for participation. Students extend learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom by participating in on-site real world conditions. The Research Center is designed to provide for complex information and communication needs. Spaces allow for individual and collaborative research and presentation as well as casual reading. At the core of the campus is the common area that is ringed by a pedestrian boulevard designed to foster a sense of interaction and communication as well as address the needs of individuals. Academic core areas proximate to the campus commons are designed with flexibility to serve either student grade level or academic village methodology. Flexible space planning allows these academic areas to adapt to future educational trends. Physical separation of the three art functions provides outdoor patio spaces for additional work area as well as instruction. The Physical Education Villages lies on the opposite side of the campus commons from the Fine Arts Village. A competition-size Gymnasium, Weight Room, Training Room, Shower and Locker Facilities, Gymnastics, Aerobics, Dance Rooms, Outdoor STadium, Baseball and Softball Fields, Track & Field Facilities, and other support spaces will assure that Westview will share in the District's winning athletic traditions.

The School is designed as a state of the art facility with a school-wide data and multimedia network that allows any work station on campus to access a central database of information, share relevant software, access the internet, and, where appropriate, manage student information data, both for the campus and the School District. The multimedia network will allow all appropriate spaces to create, send, and receive video communications.

The school is designed initially for approximately 2268 students. Accommodations have been made in the overall campus plan for an additional 20 relocatable buildings in the future if needed.

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