Dahlia Heights Elementary School is part of a bond program to construct permanent classrooms in order to remove modular classrooms -“portables”- to increase play space at constrained LA Unified School District sites.

The overcrowded historic building faces quiet residential streets, while playground is bounded by an arterial boulevard. The new 8000sf, two-story addition of six permanent classrooms is between these worlds, supporting the program of the existing building while extending into the playground.

The brief challenged the design team to wonder, “what kind of building belongs in a playground”? The team wanted to avoid condescending stereotypes of “playfulness” and instead design a building suitable as a backdrop for play. Exterior circulation is focused on the playground side of the building, extending the play space to the second floor. Children at the school call the new building Pikachu.

The small footprint new building minimizes the use of limited play space while creating distinct play yards for the different age groups of students and activities and incorporates an edible schoolyard garden previously developed by the school’s active parent population. North facing skylights addressed the challenge of limited wall surface available for glazing while providing varied sections in the classrooms.