New Built

Award of Honor

Evergreen Valley High School

East Side Union High School District

Steinberg Architects

This new high school accomodating 1,800 students involved an extraordinary level of collaboration from the community, private industry leaders, District and faculty. The program utilizes an innovative approach to education – aiming to be the school of the future. Incorporating specialized academies, students are able to select coursework geared toward a specific area of interest. As one of the first in California to integrate the new program of specialized studies, the District will serve as a model for anticipated statewide implementation.

Flexible classrooms and small break out spaces allow for study groups, student and faculty meetings. The cluster of academic buildings create smaller more intimate campuses within the larger academic environment. The concept is similar to a university environment wherein individual ‘colleges' exist within the whole. Academic buildings surround a private central quad, providing a secure and intimate outdoor environment for the students. A performing arts building and an athletic plaza, track field and an aquatic center surround a second, more public quad. Adjacent to the parking, this public courtyard creates an outdoor recreation environment welcoming to the community.

A juror commented, “This project evokes the image of a solid community high school. It's a monumental school that's very competently done. Kids will immediately take to this campus and feel a great deal of pride toward it. It will be a real community asset long into the future.”