New Built

Award of Merit

Patriot High School

Jurupa Unified School District

Perkins + Will

During the planning and design process, the district concentrated on two primary goals:  create classrooms that are true “learning laboratories” and explore community use possibilities with the Jurupa community.  The community facilities include a 400-seat theater with full fly loft, athletic fields and facilities, and a larger library with separate student and public entrances.  The community components have been located on the campus in a way that allows the community to easily recognize their access to the facilities.

The highest priority for the new learning spaces was to make the classrooms the best they can be. This is accomplished by increasing the size of the standard classroom to 1150-square feet, and by designing flexible classrooms with operable walls that allow for 2300-square feet learning environment.  Every classroom can function as an art, science, or math classroom, depending on the needs of the school.  This flexibility will allow the school to develop an integrated educational approach and accommodate fluctuating curriculum requirements.  By creating building layouts that function either as departmental classroom groupings or as grade level groupings formed around a central courtyard, the district will be better able to respond to changing educational philosophies. Additionally, the classrooms incorporate light shelves and natural ventilation to create an environment that enhances the learning potential of the students.

The Jury said they likee the classrooms in this one in that they were larger than most classrooms.  They allow different learning styles, different teaching methodolgies to be used, and provide flexibility now and in the future.  The structural expression in the architecture of the buildings is dramatic and creates a wonderful sense of place for the students.  And, while there wasn’t as much of a discussion and exploration of sustainable features, the daylighting qualities of these spaces will not only contribute to the learning character of the space, because we all know the connection between daylighting and student performance, but it clearly shows the idea of capturing those qualities. The use of simplified materials is very well thought out through the design process for creating a pleasing appearance.