Transcript 1220888405_1

2008 Exhibition of School
Planning and Architecture
Los Angeles County
High School for the Arts
Los Angeles, CA
Design Concept Award
HMC Architects
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Contextual View, Luckman Theater
Community Environment: By the nature of its program, LACHSA has two functions: creative student workspace
and accessible performance / exhibit destination. The school connects to the California State University, Los
Angeles Luckman Arts theaters as well as university classrooms. Exhibit spaces, the Black Box Theatre, an adjacent
amphitheater, and a roof garden on the lower building become shared spaces for all students, faculty, and public
attendees. In this way, the facility becomes a community center, drawing educators, professionals, performers,
artists, and audience members into a central location.
Amphitheater View
Learning Environment: LACHSA’s compliment to the study of the arts resides in it’s layered, multifunction
approach. Spaces are designed to function as both “messy” production areas and elegant exhibit halls. The
program is separated vertically, with classrooms at ground level and larger art studios on the second tier.
Academic spaces are similarly sized, for efficiency and cost savings.
Elevations
Learning Environment (cont’d): The design solution separates the available site into the more formal entry area
and the informal work yard (or ‘back of house’). This work yard will incorporate a natural amphitheater into the
hillside for informal productions and practice. The west side of the building contains administrative spaces,
foundation offices, and the main lobby. There is also a direct connection from the second level to the well-used
exterior staircase that connects the parking areas to the campus, for the convenience of students and staff.
Campus Material Diagram
Physical Environment: Taking advantage of an existing grade change, the facility connects to the 1.25-acre site at
all levels, for student work or public access in select areas throughout the space. To maximize use of the given site,
a retaining wall is planned that will form a natural southern boundary of the school and bracket a south facing
courtyard for use by the students. The northern side, or ‘front’ of the lower building will include a modular
material that is related to the brick on typical university buildings. Appropriate landscape materials will
supplement the use of the surface as an elevated ground plane.
Black Box Theater
Design: As the school’s most public function and the largest part of the program, the top level of the building
houses the facility’s Black Box Theatre. To highlight, the box will be clad in reflective glazing and will feature
dramatic lighting to transform it from workspace to performance gallery between day and night. A large event
board announces performances and community events on the public face of the building, emphasizing the dual
nature of the facility. The interiors of the classrooms and studios will have a utilitarian aesthetic appropriate for an
artist loft, further reducing cost. As the building utilizes a specialized moment frame structure to maximize
efficiency and flexibility, very few of the interior walls are load bearing and therefore allow for future adjustment
to the building usage.
Inspiration
Planning Process: The new Los Angeles County High School for the Arts on the campus of California State
University, Los Angeles, was conceived as a creative haven for the study of visual and performing arts. Drawing
from the diverse artistic statements of prolific Andy Warhol, minimalist Donald Judd, and innovative dance legend
Martha Graham, the facility is part artist loft/part polished exhibit space to accommodate student and faculty
needs.
Contextual View
Planning Process (cont’d): Financed by a hardship budget, the project’s design collaboration between the
architect, County of Los Angeles, and State University staff centered on three objectives: maximizing space,
increasing facility efficiency, and creating flexible spaces for numerous arts endeavors. The result is a 42,000
square foot space that uses economic constraints to its advantage, introducing simple, minimalist materials to
enhance a multipurpose creative environment.
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Data
Submitting Firm :
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
HMC Architects
Architect of Record
Kevin O’Brien, AIA, LEED AP
Director of Design
3546 Concours Street
Ontario, California 91764
909-989-9979
Joint Partner Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Other Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Construction Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Project in Design
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Details
Project Name
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
City
Los Angeles
State
California
District Name
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Supt/President
Dr. Ron Randolph
Occupancy Date
Est. 2009
Grades Housed
9-12
Capacity(Students)
594
Site Size (acres)
1.25 acres
Gross Area (sq. ft.)
42,000 SF
Per Occupant(pupil)
70 SF/student
gross/net please indicate
(GSF)
Design and Build?
No
If yes, Total Cost:
N/A
Includes:
If no,
Site Development:
In Design (N/A)
Building Construction:
In Design (N/A)
Fixed Equipment:
In Design (N/A)
Other:
In Design (N/A)
Total:
In Design (N/A)