Construction is complete on the $10.9 million, 60,000-square-foot Corky McMillin Elementary School located on a 10.3-acre site in Chula Vista. The project represents a prototype designed, in collaboration with the district, to reflect a new way of thinking in education facilities for the information-technology age.
The project team worked directly with the assistant superintendent for business services and support and the school district during a two-week charette, or series of workshops, where the two groups examined case studies and interviewed teachers, administrators, maintenance personnel and community members for input on a design that would best suit both elementary schools.
The campus encompasses nine single-story buildings, including an administration building, a multipurpose building, a library and six classroom buildings that will hold 750 students in grades K to 6, with extra space to accommodate growth.
Design goals consisted of a depiction of a village-like atmosphere where buildings are compatible with surrounding residential neighborhoods. The exteriors have Californian stucco finishes and standing-seam metal roofs. All the buildings have covered walkways.
The administration building is located near the main entry to represent a “downtown” village for easy public access and overall supervision of campus activities. This building houses the reception area, staff offices, conference room, teachers' lounge, workroom and a nurse's office.
Tucker Sadler Noble Castro Architects (San Diego, Calif.) is architect for the project. Key project consultants included Simon Wong Engineering (San Diego), structural engineering; Randall Lamb (San Diego), electrical and mechanical engineering; Winzler & Kelly (San Diego), civil engineers; and Wimmer, Yamada & Caughey (San Diego), landscape architects.
For more information on these projects and others, visit www.schooldesigns.com.
