St Thomas School, K-8

Los Angeles, CA

This 72,000 square foot  K-8 Catholic School in a densely populated part of the city sits on an extremely small site.  The design achieves the maximum effect with limited resources, working with an economy of means and a cost-effective material palate to turn constraints into architectural opportunities. A new pedestrian entry occurs along an over-scaled ramp that rises up to the middle of the site and arrives in a large Urban Porch. This space creates a new nexus for the community and a new identity within the city , functioning in many ways for the school. A new playground is stacked over subterranean parking, and a new driveway wraps around the perimeter of the site, providing a buffer for the school community and an on-site drop-off in front of the ‘Urban Porch’.

California Council AIA Honor Award
Los Angeles AIA Design Award
Westside Urban Forum Design Award – Honor
Best of California Construction – Best Project Winner
Award of Excellence – Los Angeles Architectural Awards – LA Business Council
Builder’s Choice Grand Award
Steel Joist Institute Design Award
Silver Award – American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Exhibited at MOCA, the Geffen Contemporary as a part of “A New Sculpturalism: Contemporary Architecture from Southern California”