Agoura High School and Calabasas High School, Performing Arts Education Centers

Agoura Hills and Calabasas, California

Firm

John Sergio Fisher & Associates, Inc.

Client

Las Virgenes Unified School District

Area

33,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$18,300,000

Completion Date

10/2012

The Las Virgenes Unified School District Performing Arts Education Centers at Agoura and Calabasas High Schools were constructed as one architectural and general contractor contract with identical programs, 100-seat black-box and 660-seat main theaters. The district originally wanted two identical buildings, but site constraints led to different spatial massing. Both were designed so the juxtaposition of the curved roofs and lobby glazing creates icons that serve as functional beacons for the arts at campus entrances.

The buildings are designed for LEED silver certification, which will be achieved by the use of future photovoltaic cells on the theaters’ catenary roof slopes and the use of local, recycled and non-toxic materials. Concrete masonry unit walls throughout assist in conserving energy because of high-mass thermal delay.

These buildings are state-of-the-art performance centers and are acoustically ideal with high, curving exposed ceilings/roofs, which allow for long reverberation times for orchestras. Adjustable acoustics will be achieved by means of moving draperies to dampen sound for drama and sound systems.

“Very attractive buildings that support the teaching of performing arts while providing excellent community involvement.”–2013 jury