ATHLETIC FACILITIES
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
At Architecture for Education (A4E), we believe that welldesigned athletic learning environments play a vital role in enhancing the longevity and vitality of the broader community. Our designs focus on maximizing efficiency and fostering healthy lifestyles, ensuring that athletic spaces not only support student athletes but also contribute to the overall wellness of the community.
Our approach centers on understanding the perspectives of both students and the community, promoting interactive learning and creating vibrant gathering places that embody an active learning model. We strive to honor identity and inspire cultural heritage in every facility we design. Our athletic spaces are equipped with cutting-edge technology and are flexible enough to adapt to future needs, ensuring they remain relevant for years to come.
HERGET MIDDLE SCHOOL
School District 129 | Aurora, IL
Herget Middle School is thoughtfully designed to create an optimal learning environment that embodies the principles of modern middle school education. With a curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory, the school fosters a space where students can thrive. The layout is organized around a central spine, which seamlessly integrates sustainable planning and takes full advantage of the expansive rural vistas.
In the west wing, classroom clusters connect to the main organizing feature: a central barn-like hub. This dynamic space houses a library, technology center, life skills classroom, process labs, science project room, conference rooms, student services, restrooms, and lockers. Each classroom cluster is uniquely themed to highlight a distinct educational component, all configured around a shared resource area.
The east wing accommodates the administrative offices, gymnasium, multi-purpose room, cafeteria, and additional support spaces. Each major element of the project embraces a rural aesthetic, contributing to the overall ambiance reminiscent of a farming complex.
The design evolved from a collaborative planning process that included input from students, teachers, school board members, and community representatives in addition to the architectural team.
Industrial and agricultural materials are used to emphasize the metaphor of the American heartland, such as field stone, brick, corrugated metal, and standing seam metal.
LUISENO K-8 SCHOOL
Lake Elsinore Unified School District| Corona, CA
The Luiseno Campus Expansion reimagines the existing PreK-5 campus, transforming it into a comprehensive PreK-8 neighborhood school. This ambitious project involves the construction of four new buildings, minor renovations to existing interiors, the removal of all modular and relocatable classrooms, and an expansion of the student drop-off areas. The planning process engaged key stakeholders, including the LEUSD School Board, Facilities Department, and Luiseno School staff and students.
Central to the expansion is the new Multipurpose Gymnasium, which features a fully equipped kitchen, a covered outdoor dining area, locker rooms, and a dedicated stage/music classroom. The gymnasium serves both middle and elementary students while also providing a versatile community space for joint-use activities. Clearstory windows enhance the interior with abundant natural light while ensuring security from external damage and protection during athletic activities. Additionally, the Music/Stage classroom is outfitted with a state-ofthe-art audio/visual system, making it ideal for both sporting events and stage performances.
The expanded student drop-off area and Amphitheater/Stair-Bridge structure enhances campus access, connecting the second level classroom additions to the school while providing an outdoor gathering area for assemblies and performances.
FERNANDO R. LEDESMA HS GYM
El Monte Union High School District | El Monte, CA
The new Fitness Center and Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) at Fernando Ledesma Continuation High School serves as a vibrant hub for athletic, educational, and community activities. This impressive facility features a full-court basketball area with grandstand seating for 250 spectators, making it perfect for both sporting events and performances. Additional spaces include a dedicated Physical Fitness and Weight Training Room, a Coach’s office, and a versatile classroom that adapts to various instructional needs, complemented by a lively Concessions area for event refreshments.
Designed to maximize natural light, the interior incorporates solar tubes and expansive windows, creating an inviting atmosphere throughout the day. The MPR/Gymnasium is equipped with adjustable lighting, foldable lunch seating for 150, acoustic treatments, and a specialized sound system, ensuring excellent audio quality for public speaking and musical performances. A state-of-the-art computerized projector system further enhances the facility’s capability to support campus and community gatherings with advanced technology.
CONCEPT DIAGRAM:
BODIES IN MOTION = BUILDING IN MOTION
THE
SCHOOL STRIVES TO CREATE AN NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS FEEL THEY ARE WELCOMED
-Fred Arteaga, Principal
Shifting planes on both the interior and exterior express movement. At points of material transition, two walls seem to slice or shift past each other, creating dynamic spaces and an energetic aesthetic.
LA CAÑADA HS TRACK & FIELD
La Cañada Unified School District | La Cañada, CA
La Cañada High School (LCHS) is celebrated not just for its exceptional academics but also for its vibrant extracurricular activities and strong community support. In response to stakeholder concerns regarding athlete safety and maintenance costs, the A4E Design team, in collaboration with Land Images, hosted dynamic workshops with the LCHS field replacement committee. Together, they explored the best solutions to enhance the safety and upkeep of the existing Track and Field.
Our dedicated team provided hands-on product samples, data-driven research, and organized site visits to thoroughly evaluate various track and field replacement options. Ultimately, the committee chose the Astroturf Golden Series, featuring a water-efficient zeolite infill atop a cushioned Brock 1-inch shock pad. To further optimize field maintenance and temperature regulation, we installed a new Kifco watering system. The track resurfacing, expertly completed by Beynon, boasts a striking new red seven-millimeter surface with golden relay zones, ensuring both functionality and aesthetics for future athletes.
RESEARCH AND EVALUATION: TRACK & FIELD
A4E researched high-quality, reputable products in California and assisted LCHS in selecting the
The LCHS Committee selected 1” shock pads with thinner pile turf and zeolite infill. Out of the three presented design solutions, this infill combination was the most cost effective option with standard anticipated maintenance costs.
Channel Islands High School Aquatic Center | Oxnard Union High School District| Oxnard, CA
OXNARD AQUATIC CENTERS
Oxnard Union School District | Oxnard, CA
The stunning Channel Islands archipelago, located just off the coast of Oxnard, serves as the creative muse for a dynamic architectural language inspired by the ocean currents that flow between the islands and the mainland. As visitors approach the new entry gate, they are welcomed by a sinuous pathway that elegantly winds its way to the Aquatic Center. These pathways extend around the pool deck, seamlessly connecting various aquatic program spaces and gathering areas, fostering a sense of community and movement.
The design of Pacifica High School pays homage to the school’s Triton athletic identity. Inspired by Triton, the Greek God of the Sea, known for his conch shell trumpet and commanding presence, the architecture captures the essence of vibrational waves through a unique stained pattern on the concrete deck. This theme is echoed in the title of the outdoor showers and the intricately laser-cut gate panels. The undulating roofline of the Aquatic Center mimics ocean waves, translating their energy into rhythmic vibrations that resonate across the pool deck. Concrete benches and landscaped ground stripes extend this wave motif onto the ground plane, creating an immersive experience that embodies the spirit of the sea.
CONCEPT DIAGRAM:
WATER AND SOUND WAVES
THE NEW AQUATIC CENTERS ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE MOVEMENT OF WATER AND SOUND WAVES TO UNIFY THE CAMPUS CULTURE & AQUATICS PROGRAM.
CMU block serves both as structural enclosure and throughout the site to enclose the pool deck. The majority of the material will remain exposed as a durable finished surface as well as an honest expression of building structure. Aluminum framed dual pane window systems occur on both sides of the elevated roof to bring in natural light to the interior of the locker rooms and coach’s office.
