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”