“ The Sequoia Union Gymnasium furthers the educational mission of the school district and
community in multiple important ways .
environments as well as an educational tool for the students who use the building daily , the Sequoia Union Gymnasium furthers the educational mission of the school district and community in multiple important ways .
THE O ’ DONOHUE FAMILY STANFORD EDUCATIONAL FARM
CAW ARCHITECTS
SEQUOIA UNION GYMNASIUM
For this legacy project , CAW introduced a number of highperformance building features to create the first LEED Platinum public school building in the Bay Area . In need of a new gymnasium for its growing student population , the school district taped the firm to design a new 18,000 square foot gymnasium with a welcoming plaza and drop-off area . Students now arrive on campus to a new welcoming entry plaza highlighted by the lightfilled , north-facing glass lobby that invites students and patrons into the gymnasium and campus beyond .
To meet the school district ’ s goals for achieving the highest standards for energy consumption and sustainability , CAW ’ s design solutions integrated the large clerestory at the roof ridge with translucent glass that fills the gym with abundant diffuse natural daylight . This allows for daytime use of the gym without any artificial light sources reducing lighting needs by more than 70 % in the facility . The entire roof surface of the building employs a photovoltaic film to generate power from the sun and further offset the energy needs of the building . Now considered a model for how architects can shape sustainability within educational
Located on the outskirts of Stanford ’ s campus , the Farm — true to its name — serves as a working agricultural complex that provides over 15,000 pounds of produce to the campus annually . It acts as a living laboratory where students , faculty , and the community can test ideas about social and environmental aspects of farming and urban agriculture . CAW ’ s design tightly clusters the farm structures to preserve the majority of the site for field crops and orchards . The structures of utility are arrayed to maximize their workflow efficiency for the daily operations of the farm while also framing views and creating outdoor spaces for events , small and large gatherings , and outdoor learning .
Central to the design is The Barn , a large structure with a strong iconic silhouette created by a simple gable roof topped by clerestories that provide light and ventilation . It houses a workshop , tool and equipment storage , office space , restrooms , a large seminar room , and an open-air pavilion . The design ’ s open-air shell , veiled skin , and plentiful outdoor program area take advantage of the temperate climate creating an ideal outdoor teaching environment . The relationship to the land is evident in every aspect of both the design and curriculum .
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The O ’ Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm
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