Pinole Valley High School – West Contra Costa Unified School District

The design goal for Pinole Valley High School was 100% student engagement; the
design employs spaces that will motivate students, encourage collaboration, and
energize learning. In the heart of the main academic building there is a large
three-story open forum with built-in seats, display niches, WIFI, projector screen,
sound and lighting systems to enhance activities such as students’ clubs meetings,
informal gatherings and studies, science fair, or serves as shelter during inclement
weather. Smaller open spaces with natural daylight are provided as an extension
to the classrooms at each end of the building for small group work or project
display.

Classrooms are equipped with interactive learning technology and careful
placement of projector screens and power to give teachers flexibility in arranging
the classroom furniture to suit different types of learning environments.
The outdoor quad was designed to serve as a programmatic extension of the
Library. There are different types of seating and gathering places; lunch shelters
with picnic tables, seat walls at various planters, and an amphitheater embracing
a variety of students’ activities.

Project Specifics: