Lake Street Primary School

Los Angeles, California

Firm

William Loyd Jones, Architect

Client

Los Angeles Unified School District

Area

38,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$10,000,000

Completion Date

11/2005

Situated on a sloping two-acre site, Lake Street Primary School is designed to relieve crowding in neighborhood schools. It provides space for 380 students in kindergarten, first and second grades.
The school program has been divided into three distinct buildings, each placed at the site perimeter to form a central protected courtyard. The administration/library building faces the street and bus dropoff, and provides the main school entrance and public identity. Positioned above a parking garage, the classroom building contains 13 general classrooms, three kindergartens, restrooms and outdoor teaching spaces. The multipurpose building spans the rear of the site with a multipurpose room, stage and facilities for food service, faculty dining and management. All buildings are linked by a covered steel arcade, connecting a large lunch shelter for outdoor meals.
Throughout the school, the bright, saturated colors of each building are unified by matching standing-seam metal roofs. Outdoor play areas are a mix of textured hard surfaces and grass, with colored asphalt game markings. Steps, low walls and planters are provided for casual seating and gardening projects, providing places for friends to gather away from active play.