FIRM
LPA INC.
PROJECT
PIEDMONT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
LOCATION
San Jose, California
Make science fun. Students deserve it.
Formerly located in aging portables, Piedmont
Hills High School sought to create a
permanent home for its expanding science
curriculum. The new Science and Classroom
Building negotiates a sloping site on
the edge of the campus and utilizes the
elevation change to connect floors and
frame an intimate courtyard. The courtyard
serves as a new entry to the core of
the campus and provides a variety of outdoor
learning options.
JURY’S COMMENTS
“The project’s clean details and creative,
practical solutions for sustainable and mechanical
features are an important part
of its success. The facades are well-composed,
and their restrained material palette
achieves a clarity of composition that
is unique. The grade changes are expertly
manipulated, allowing them to mediate
varied elevations over a short distance to
connect the areas of the site without distinct
platforms, providing an overall cohesiveness.
The organization and finish
materials of the interiors are equally clear,
with the charcoal gray and white helping
to codify spaces and organize educational
materials. There’s an impressive economy
to the design of the building, with limited
moves accomplishing a great deal.” •
DIVINE DETAIL
Metal Mesh Roof Screen: This is an important
detail for the project to maintain
the simple massing and clean lines of the
buildings and shows a clear understanding
of the project’s fundamental design
concept and a commitment to following
through.
PHOTOS BY JASON O’REAR PHOTOGRAPHY
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT
Go to aiacv.org/exparch Go to to register 29