Liberty High School

Menifee, California Perris Union High School District

The educational specifications for Perris Union District’s Liberty High School focused on three primary academic concepts: small learning communities, centers of applied learning, and the center for advanced science exploration (CASE). The planning effort implemented these concepts effectively and introduced three strategies for their successful implementation: Flexibility – Collaboration – Socialization. The applied learning centers were uniquely defined through a community based planning process. Student interests, community input, local labor trends, and integration and articulation with local businesses and community colleges were all considered to make a practical, informed, hands-on learning space. Resulting were four pathways including business, public service, health sciences and design engineering. The applied learning centers support multiple career paths across a variety of industries, and work with local business leaders and community college districts to develop college and career readiness. The Center for Advanced Science Exploration (CASE) provides specialized lab environments for the application and exploration of the sciences and their integration into the academic environment.

The scope of work for this project included 269,000 SF of space across a 54-acre site. The design forms four small unique learning communities, each with a decentralized administration, teacher professional center and a center of applied learning, providing personalized instruction for each student. Each pair of small learning communities are designed with professional centers for teacher collaboration and exploration of programs, teaching strategies and preparation. The entire campus is a learning environment that is studentcentered, technology-rich educational environment that provides students the opportunity to thrive and be successful within their Small Learning Community.

Completed: January 2022

Size: 269,000 SF

Construction Cost: $151,000,000

Services: Architecture, Planning

Relevant Team Members: Buddy Gessel

Delivery Method: CM Multi Prime

Saratoga High School Music Building

Saratoga, CA Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District

This two-story music building features four separate ensemble rooms for orchestra, percussion, choir, and band programs, along with individual practice music rooms and a faculty office. The challenge of this project was to fit the facilities necessary for an exceptionally large program on a very tight footprint. The result is a very efficient layout while providing acoustic isolation between different music programs. This building is strategically located with a close proximity to the existing performing arts center at the front of the campus, and connected to the main student quad in the back; thus defining a portal to the campus.

Completed: September 2017

Size: 22,000 SF

Construction Cost: $13,669,000

Services: Architecture

Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build

Relevant Team Members: Afsha Ali (PM), Pascal Najem (CA)

Compton High School

Compton, California Compton Unified School District

Compton is well known for producing music and athletic prodigies, and now this community has an opportunity to set the standard for educational excellence with a new high school. DLR Group’s design will transform the District’s oldest high school campus into a 21st Century learning environment that elevates education for all Compton students and staff. The design solution centers around keystone-shaped learning suites that support project-based learning, student exploration and general instruction. Designed specifically for Compton High School, the keystone learning suites will help advance interdepartmental collaboration and build stronger relationships between students, teachers, and administrators. These educational spaces are designed as separate suites that can be linked together with moveable walls that open and close. This function allows teachers and students to customize their spaces to easily support a variety of learning activities. The narrow area at the base of each keystone can be used for discussion, small group work, or presentation-style instruction. The widened area is where projects of all types are dreamed, designed, developed, and built. In addition, rooftop gardens accessible from the second floor provide opportunities for outdoor learning.

Completed: Under Construction

Size: 223,650 SF

Construction Cost: N/A

Services: Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design

Relevant Team Members: Alenoush Aghajanians, Anton Blewett, Jesse Miller

Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build

San Benito High School Athletic Facilities

Hollister, CA San Benito High School District

The District had physical education facilities that were old and at the end of useful life. Due to health and safety concerns, the pool had been completely shut down and the football field bleachers and locker rooms were old and in need of replacement. The District passed Measure U to replace the athletic facilities. The facilities were required to meet the needs of the large student population.

San Benito High School had the only public pool facility in the county. The District felt it was a life safety skill and built a large learn-to-swim pool, as well as a pool for competitions and water polo.

The football, softball, and other athletic facilities were state of the art with lights, speakers, press boxes, locker rooms and team rooms, restrooms, and concessions.

Completed: August 2019

Size: 16.9 Acres

Construction Cost: $32,145,091

Services: Architecture

Delivery Method: Lease/LeaseBack

Relevant Team Members: Joe Vela (PIC)