Topping Off: Santa Monica High School Discovery Building

TOPPING OFF: The final beam has been put into place for the Santa Monica High School Discovery Building.
The Discovery Building is a major addition to the 3000+ student campus. This multi-function building is comprised of 5 levels with over 260,000 square feet of space. The building wraps around an open entry court with cascading stairs and bleachers for informal gathering.
Education is constantly changing and the Discovery Building is designed for change.
Designed as a ‘loft’ building with a flexible, open, column grid, its raised floor for building systems and non-load bearing walls enables spaces to be reconfigured over time. Sustainable features include ‘living’ green walls, displacement ventilation, roof top photovoltaic and solar thermal arrays. The classrooms are filled with natural light and many have operable glass walls connecting to shared Commons spaces.