New Built

Award of Excellence

 

Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School

Pacifica School District

Quattrocchi Kwok Architects

 

The coastal community of Pacifica rallied behind the district to pass a $30 million construction bond and actively participated in a master planning process that took their schools into the 21st century.  Combined with land sales & OPSC funds, this set an $80 million six-year project.
The education specifications and design of the new middle school involved a design committee of over 30 district and community members.  Facilitated by the architects, the committee met regularly to discuss educational programs that affect design, classroom standards, outdoor space and community use.  The school’s design was inspired by these program and community needs.  Classrooms and science labs are organized into 3 independent clusters around a central courtyard.  This supports the school’s educational program by reducing the scale of the campus into three 250-student clusters where students have more contact with fewer teachers.  Each cluster is provided an entry gateway from the courtyard providing ceremonial entry and display space.  The central courtyard connects the 3 clusters together. As the major campus organizing element, this courtyard is ideally suited for graduations, outdoor teaching, independent study, eating and formal gatherings.
Jurors like this well organized plan and the way it fits the context of the location.  They like the classroom design and appreciate the vaulted ceilings and well lighted interior space.  A juror said, “I like that the community was so involved in this project from passing the bond to giving input on the school design.”