Los Angeles USD Central Region H.S. No. 13

Scheduled to open in 2010, the high school will serve 2,295 students in 85 classrooms, in addition to continuing education classes and community recreation year-round. Central Region High School #13 will anchor a residential community that has transformed a former industrial zone alongside the historic Pacific Railway and the Los Angeles Riverbed. As part of a city- and community-focused redevelopment that includes a new community park, adaptive reuse of adjacent industrial buildings, and river restoration, the school is a bellwether of planned revitalization for this formerly industrial sector of the city.
The design addresses the environmental and sustainability concerns of the community while also meeting a neighborhood need for public recreation areas. The gymnasium, library, and performing arts center are located at the campus perimeter for ease of access, and the play fields, also expected to be heavily used by the community, are closest to the residential area. This arrangement separates instructional facilities from the roads, adding security while preserving a sense of campus openness.
Taking advantage of the temperate climate, the design reduces the amount of conditioned space by utilizing outdoor circulation. This reduces the overall heating and cooling loads on the campus. Horizontal sunshades screen direct sun while maximizing daylight; and vertical exterior mechanical shafts deflect east-west sun while increasing classroom space.