This 225,000 SF structural steel high school features a full theater, gymnasium, auxilliary gym, and significant CTE spaces to serve the needs of a growing area.  Structural heavy timber framing is expressed in the high volume commons area which connects the two classroom wings.  Masonry walls served as durable and acoustic surfaces for the theater and gym spaces with steel braced frames in the remainder of the spaces.  The project is built on liquifiable soil, which can become unstable in a severe earthquake, requiring the foundations to be supported by an aggregate pier soil improvement. The design utilizes exposed heavy timber framing at the roof of the commons areas, allowing for warmth and cost savings which fit with the building type. Careful attention to the structural connections at the framing was necessary to achieve the desired aesthetic.

Photo credit: Benjamin Benschneider