We are thrilled to share that James Lick Student Union was featured today on Education Snapshots . Untouched since the 1950’s, the dynamic educational space now serves as a multipurpose building and cafeteria. Our design focused on removing barriers between spaces, to increase the social and academic interactions of students outside the classroom, and to blur the lines between dining, socializing, student and faculty interaction, and academic work. To read the full story about how we completely revitalized the culture of the school, click here.
First photo….three days ago. Second photo….YESTERDAY! Meehleis Modular Buildings is wasting no time putting up the new Admin Building at Scotts Valley Middle School!
Brent McClure and Monique Wood from CAW Architects presented at the Scott Valley Unified School District meeting Tuesday night, outlining the upcoming steps as the construction gets ready to start.
Read the Santa Cruz Sentinel article here.
Last Thursday, CAW’s Brent McClure, Keith Wainschel, and Sarah Vaccaro had the honor of attending the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Oakland Unified School District’s The Center (aka: the Central Commissary, Education Center and Urban Farm) project. It was a beautiful, moving, passionate celebration of the cumulative effort of OUSD Staff, non-profit partners, Board of Education members, Superintendents, parents, students, our design team and the contractor team for the past 7 years to bring this project to the beginning of construction. It has not been an easy process, and the perseverance and vision of this collective community to see this project through was inspiring.
While we still have 14 (long) months of construction ahead of us to fully realize this transformative project, it was inspiring to be reminded of why this project and the work we do is so important. Once built, the Center will provide over 6 million fresh, locally grown, healthy meals per year to thousands of Oakland students who need and deserve quality and tasty food so they can pursue and achieve their dreams. The Center will be a place for students, families, and communities in Oakland to be reunited with the agricultural roots of Oakland – to learn how good, healthy food is grown, prepared and provides nourishment to the body. This facility – our design – will house and enable all of these programs and be a source of pride. This project will transform lives and communities in Oakland.
This is a quintessential CAW project: restoring the best of a design that had integrity but needed some tough love. Intervening emphatically and confidently with the elegant lobby addition, that harnesses a programmatic need for more space and restrooms to create a beautiful sense of entry. Solving the intricate technical challenges that all theaters entail. Stretching a thin project budget so that no one would ever suspect money was scarce.
On opening day, we were treated to live theatrical, dance, and musical performances, as well as tours led by the students who will be using this new 450-seat theater and performing arts center. The joy and enthusiasm on the student’s faces at the opening were palpable—they were just so excited to be turned loose in this building!
This is what we do, and why we do it, and we are deeply proud of this project.
Buh-bye, locker room.
Posted by CAW Architects, Inc. on Thursday, June 18, 2015
Buh-bye, locker room.
On Monday morning, Andrew Hill High School held an opening celebration for their new Science & Art Building, an 18,000-SF replacement of the original Building 100. The new building features six visual arts classrooms, two science labs, and three general education classrooms. A brightly daylit central circulation corridor with clerestory windows also serves as an informal learning space, art gallery, and event venue.
We are very pleased to announce that this afternoon our Central Commissary at Foster Elementary (The Foster Center) received an Award of Excellence in the “Project In Design” category of the 2015 C.A.S.H./AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design + Planning Awards Program, the first of many State awards that we expect this important project to receive.
When completed, the facility will combine three distinct programs: a 30,000 square foot central kitchen, an education center, and a 1.5-acre urban farm, all on one site creating a singular, integrated experience for the students of Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland community. Not only will the Center produce nearly 50,000 meals each day, but it will offer a rich tableau of educational programs (developed in conjunction with the Center for Ecoliteracy) within the classrooms and the urban farm tailored towards all grade levels emphasizing STEM learning, farming, environmental science, and a range of career-based educational programs. This project will help to support the District’s goal to transform their nutritional services program and create a district-wide culture that connects food, culture, health, wellness, and education.
CAW staff paid a visit to the Stanford Crown Hall Law School Library project yesterday. This extensive renovation of the main stair, lobby space, and third floor will be completed in March 2014.
