Fifteen years in the making, Pride Academy was one of the last remaining Santee School District sites to receive a new Learning Resource Center. StudioWC worked closely with District and School Site staff to design a flexible yet functional building to be used by all TK-8th grades.
The 6,000 SF LRC building provides a new library and additional classrooms and support spaces. The sizable new Library space features multiple entry points, different zones for grade-level groups (low book shelving and raised reading platform for the younger students while tall shelving, flexible furniture, and a flat-panel TV for the older students), a centralized circulation desk for optimal supervision, and access to a dedicated book storage room. The library is connected to a large, flexible makerspace classroom, both physically and visually, using a folding glass wall to divide the spaces to enhance the common core curriculum. With this concept, students could flow directly from research-based learning in the library into project-based activities in the makerspace.
This innovative classroom has resilient flooring, pull-down power, high-tech audio-visual systems, casework with multiple sinks, and a storage room. With its open layout and minimal fixed furniture, this space would also house the site’s “Arts Attack” program, other various activities, and afterschool programs. The need for support spaces is ever-changing, so there are several smaller spaces adjacent to the makerspace. With folding glass walls to provide the utmost flexibility and maintain line of sight supervision, these rooms can flex as needed, either as office space, additional collaboration space for the main classroom, or a combination of both. High ceilings with clerestory windows and floating ceilings span the length of the building, adding an architectural statement to the space and create a cohesive, open feel. Outdoor learning areas complement the new building and extend the boundary of these spaces. Raised seat walls and large boulder rocks provide seating opportunities throughout the exterior, with several accompanied by large shade trees. There is also a covered outdoor area dedicated to the Makerspace Classroom, located at the back of the building. The site and community alike received this new building well, refreshing a sense of campus pride and excitement.
