Modernization/Reconstruction

Award of Honor

Westwood Elementary School

Poway Unified School District

NTDSTICHLER Architecture

The transformation of Westwood Elementary school created a new entry reconnecting the school to its neighborhood and providing the school the opportunity to redefine its standing in the neighborhood.  The expansion of this campus proved difficult due to its closed circular geometry.  Challenges in this design were overcome by incorporating a masterplan that reflects a break in the circular mold, allowing for both expansion and renovation while maintaining a cohesive appearance. 

The old campus was far from the District’s prototype elementary school.  The aging facility also lacked a sense of entry and architectural connection with the surrounding community, and it had lost what once defined it as a school.  The new solution focuses on creating a new architectural design that relates to the existing structure with accent walls, entry canopies, and glimpses of the classroom buildings. With the new construction facing the neighborhood, the front of the campus is a whole new school with a focal entry point. 

The new plan creates collaborative learning environments across the facility. Relocatables were replaced with a permanent construction and existing classroom spaces were modernized. Kindergarten was placed adjacent to parking, administration, and student drop-off, and is equipped with its own outdoor play area.  A new Multi-Purpose Room and Food Services Building was constructed, which utilizes a joint-use agreement between the District and Parent/Teacher Association. The new construction incorporates an energy efficient building shell with an R19 wall value and R30 roof value. Classrooms will have improved acoustical treatments to better accommodate the hearing impaired. Energy efficient lighting was installed throughout all spaces and the high performance

H-VAC system was refurbished.

Jurors said, “The additions are good architecture with very thoughtful connections between the new and old, and also those connections provide collaboration spaces between and among classroom activities. That’s unique and we don’t see enough of those. They added a new sense of entry, which was very confusing before. Now it’s clear where to enter which helps with traffic flow and site management.”