Ramona Middle School Gymnasium

LaVerne, California

Firm

Rachlin Partners

Client

Bonita Unified School District

Area

15,445 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$6,500,000

Completion Date

11/2017

Design team: Michael Rachlin, AIA, LEED AP (Design Principal); Richard Ingrassia, AIA, LEED AP (Project Management Principal); Rudy Monico; Mario Suson

Until 2016, students at Ramona Middle School did not have a facility for sports and physical education. The new gymnasium is conceived as a gathering place for students, teachers and the community to come together to celebrate athletic competition and “Vikings” pride.
The facility is equipped with bleachers that seat 1,424 people. Players and spectators can enjoy games on any of three basketball, two volleyball and eight badminton courts. The interior space also is de?ned by an open-framed truss ceiling that creates a visually captivating pattern.
Designed to ?t a location at the nexus of two key campus axes, the triangular entrance creates a welcoming plaza de?ned by a white steel trellis system and porcelain tile façade that is durable, low-maintenance, and resistant to vandalism.
Beyond creating a physical presence for the school’s athletic programs, the gymnasium incorporates simple, sustainable features to help reduce energy consumption. Louvered windows invite di?used light into interior spaces; they minimize dependency on arti?cial lighting, reduce heat gain and create visual interest in the building’s façade.