South Region Elementary School #12 is a new comprehensive elementary school on a 3.95 acre site in Los Angeles. Based on the educational requirements established for the project, the school district required a design solution that capitalized on the opportunities afforded by a 800 student program, such as a two-acre playground, while offering some of the advantages of an intimate-scale learning environment. The program provides 32 classrooms, contained in a three story building, as well as a library, multipurpose room, food service, lunch shelter and administration office.

Given the requirement for an elementary school to serve a population of nearly 800 students, the architect was presented

with the task of maximizing the learning environment on a small site. The design responds to this situation by organizing the main building along the south bordering street and the multipurpose and food service along the west. Another key benefit to this site plan design is the multipurpose and food service buildings provide physical and visual protection to the play areas and help reduce vehicular noise generated by the main street which serves as a north-south corridor through the neighborhood.

Other design features include an articulated “lantern stair” that addresses the small gathering area at the corner of campus to the south that acknowledges the existing park at the opposite corner of the street.

Client Los Angeles Unified School DistrictSize 3.95 acresStories One and ThreeConst. Cost $22,430,325Completion Mid-2012

Awards2010 CASH/AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design Award of Excellence

South Region Elementary School #12Los Angeles, California

Designed by MVE Institutional, Inc.