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Architects: Frederick Fisher and Partners
- Area: 25000 ft²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Jeremy Bittermann
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Manufacturers: Eco-Cem, ORNL
Text description provided by the architects. Frederick Fisher and Partners was selected to design the new Science Education & Research Facility for the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica. As the first new building to be constructed at the school’s main campus in nearly 20 years, the Science Education & Research Facility is 25,000 sf and serves the school’s Upper and Middle School students as their primary science facility. Its location and relationship to the urban campus and freeway create opportunities as both a promotional beacon and destination.
FFP led the design effort, which was a community effort that involved Crossroads alumni, students, faculty, staff and administrators every step of the way. FFP also worked closely with Morley Builders to manage this project so that construction schedule coincided with the school’s summer break to minimize disturbance of the regular school functions. The facility includes seven Upper School science classrooms, five Middle School science classrooms, three faculty prep rooms, one student study area, a fume hood room and a Projects Pavilion that features two project classrooms and one outdoor living laboratory. Exterior hallways and public terraces featuring slate blackboards extend the learning environment outside the classrooms. To the north of the building, a new plaza serves as an all-school gathering place for events and recreation. The plaza features a solar clock and a butterfly garden by Landscape Architect Pamela Burton. Atop the Pavilion rests a hyperbolic paraboloid sculpture by esteemed environmental artist Ned Kahn, who created the piece as a visual reminder of the hidden interplay between wind and gravity. In addition to meeting Crossroads’ strict sustainability guidelines, the facility also features energy-generating photovoltaic panels embedded into the glass curtain wall, recycled denim insulation throughout, LED light fixtures and ample natural light, a storm-water filtration system and energy-efficient plumbing and a roof garden.
