University High School Masterplanning & Renovations
With University High School’s vision of an expanded campus connecting people, cultivating ideas, and supporting innovative learning, LMSA refreshed the school’s masterplan and brought this vision to life at each of the existing buildings across the campus.
The opening of UHS's first ground-up building, the California Street Campus, enabled UHS to unlock the potential of its existing buildings. Balancing academic, community life, and faculty and administration spaces across multiple buildings required working in phases to ensure operational, programmatic, and financial efficiency. Starting with refreshing classrooms at the historic Upper Campus, LMSA continued by transforming former science labs into a performing arts hub at Middle Campus and creating new office suites for two of UHS's signature programs: Breakthrough Summerbridge and Responsive Education (RED). Finally, the renovation of Lower Campus will bring a new student commons, new math classrooms, and revitalized athletic facilities to the UHS community.
Our design decisions were guided by the following principles:
1. Create student-centered energy throughout the entire school footprint by distributing student services, common spaces, staff and faculty offices, and fresh food access into each campus.
2. Prioritize daylight and views for learning areas, improving student wellbeing with healthy spaces.
3. Enhance the experience of students, faculty and staff through the design of flexible open spaces.
4. Consolidate after-school time for students by maintaining two gyms.
5. Provide clustered, recognizable hubs for each department across the school’s campuses.
