Yerba Buena High School Student Union and Quad Transformation  |  San Jose, CA

This single-story student union and quad transformation is the new heart of the Yerba Buena High School campus. The new facility was designed to create a safe and welcoming entry. The administration office and reception area provide a control and visibility point ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and public. The centrally-located principal’s office promotes connectivity and collaboration while allowing for visual oversight of the student union. The administration space is visually connected to the adjacent learning center to provide oversight as the staffing needs require. The learning center is positioned to have a strong physical engagement of the student union and visual interest from the exterior quad and campus entry. Support areas are positioned in locations to double function as the learning center as well as the union. The large group space is located across the hall and is shared as the main conference space for administration, counseling, and discipline programs. The positioning of these support spaces maximizes program flexibility for changing use that may occur over time.