Project Data:

Completion Date:     7/1/2024

Square Footage:      15300

Building Use:           Preschool

Project Description:

The new zero-net-energy 15,300 sf public preschool for San Bernardino City USD has a clear goal to elevate educational experience for the youngest of students. The facility is located on the old agriculture program land for the nearby high school. The gift of open space and existing mature trees in a very dense urban part of the city became inspiration for the architectural concept of a school as an urban oasis. It also influenced the educational vision towards a nature-based learning approach.
The building is sited to preserve the existing trees, including an oak specimen in the entry breezeway. Its form also responds to climatic conditions, protecting from the severe Santa Ana winds on the north and opening to prevailing breezes on the south. An efficient program bar wraps around the edge of the site, creating a secure courtyard that provides all classrooms with direct outdoor learning spaces that are shaded and protected from the elements.
An outdoor canopy connects across the site, undulating to frame trees and filter sunlight. The building’s exterior is wrapped in a varied wood rainscreen system, akin to the bark of a tree, allowing the preschool to reinforce the idea of an urban oasis.
The design integrates scaled elements to influence a sense of discovery for the primary occupants: children of 2-5 years of age. This includes built-in features in the classrooms that allow for exploration and refuge. On the exterior, a playhouse structure with sliding color panels allows children to learn about colors through interactive play. Additionally, all roof stormwater is captured and directed in a demonstrative way, through scuppers and rain wells connected to a bio-detention basin that treats all site stormwater and recharges the aquifer. This playful working system is on display to build awareness of interaction between the built environment and nature.
An inclusive stakeholder engagement process facilitated the development of community geared solutions including multipurpose spaces for formal and informal community activities, increased sidewalk connections and access to open space.
The project relied on an integrated design approach, where all involved disciplines informed the process, and allowed numerous sustainable design strategies to be introduced to reduce the pEUI to 30. The all-electric facility integrates a 91-kw photovoltaic array on its roof, enough to offset 100% of its energy use. The project meets the AIA 2030 commitment with a 100% reduction over baseline and it is pursuing LEED Platinum certification.

Firm Name:              LPA Design Studios

Completion Date:     7/1/2024

Square Footage:      15300

Building Use:           Preschool

Location:                 San Bernardino, California

Project Description:
Designing for Resources
The project relied on an integrated design approach, where all involved disciplines informed the process, and allowed numerous sustainable design strategies to be introduced in order to reduce the pEUI to 30. The all-electric facility integrates a 91-kw photovoltaic array on its roof, enough to offset 100% of its energy use. The project meets the AIA 2030 commitment with a 100% reduction over baseline and it is pursuing LEED Platinum certification.

Other strategies and metrics:
• Optimized access to daylight with controls, occupancy sensors and meaningful views to the exterior for 100% of occupied spaces.
• Mixed-mode naturally ventilated classrooms with operable louvers and large fans.
• Energy Star cool roof kept free of mechanical equipment.
• 100% of stormwater collected on site and treated via bio-detention basins.
• Native and water efficient landscaping with 100% reclaimed water for irrigation.
• Dual flush plumbing and low flow fixture reduce building water use by 40% from baseline.
• Use of recycled content and locally produced materials.

Design Architect:
LPA Design Studios

Associate Architect or Firm:

Landscape Architect:
LPA Design Studios

Owner / Developer:
San Bernardino City Unified School District

Engineer:
LPA Design Studios

General Contractor:
tbd

Consultant:
n/a

Photographer:
n/a