2005 Leroy F. Greene Design Award Winner Profiles
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Modernization/Reconstruction Award of Excellence Thurston Middle School Laguna Beach Unified School District |
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The planning process for the Thurston Middle School modernization project involved the entire community. A coalition of city, school, civic and community clubs and organizations collaborated on the needs. After years of planning, the committee agreed to take a multi-million dollar bond to the voters of Laguna Beach , with over 80% of the voters approving the project.
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The new and improved Thurston facility offers the community three new program areas in the form of an expanded and enhanced athletic field for baseball, soccer and basketball; a new gym; and, the new Black Box performing arts facility, which offers another state-of-the-art community theater in the arts oriented city of Laguna Beach . By reorganizing program functions, Thurston students now enjoy 3 additional science labs, a library double its original size and administrative offices located at the school's front door. Classrooms are wired, spacious, user-friendly for staff and students, well lighted, and substantial wall space is utilized for the display of student work and projects. Energy efficiency is apparent inside and outside the facility. Electronic ballasts, T-8 and T-5's, and lighting motion sensors are incorporated into the design. High efficiency irrigation systems and electronic controllers are utilized and watering occurs in the evening to reduce evaporation. |
The jury was impressed by the fact that the design retained as much of the existing building as possible and incorporated it into the new design. |
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