BROOKS + SCARPA create high-performance facility

The Animo South Los Angeles High School has opened its doors to students, replacing the former campus which was damaged by a massive fire on July 22, 2014. The new 18,000 sq ft building was designed by BROOKS + SCARPA on an extremely limited budget, employing cost effective measures in the use of cladding, color and transparency to provide a sense of brightness in a tough inner city community.

South Los Angeles High is a progressive, public charter high school known for its strong community connection. A key design challenge was to provide the appropriate welcoming and open atmosphere for its 630 students, while ensuring a high level of security. The area was a central trouble spot during the 1964 Watts and the 1992 Rodney King Riots, with median family income currently less than $35,000 per year and 25% of the population living below the poverty level.

Unlike most schools enclosed by a security fence, the new building is surrounded by perforated bullet resistant metal walls integrated into the building design, creating light-filled courtyards. Open halls and classrooms, as well as the building transparency, express the school’s values to provide a healthy, sustainable learning environment. The façade panels create an ever-changing screen that sparkles in the sun and glows at night, while providing shade to cool the building, reducing noise, enhancing privacy, and allowing for views and ventilation. The unique architectural form and function results in a high-performance building that is an expression of the local residents and the context in which it is built.

Lucy Nordberg
TenderStream Head of Research

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