Long Beach Unified School District's new 800-student high school is focused on preparing students for a career in the hospitality industry. The design reflects a plaza scheme, a courtyard surrounded by 2-story buildings that house classrooms, Library/Media Center, administration, and sports facilities. The plaza provides the school with a “living room” for the students and a venue for events related to the hospitality industry, which will partner with the school.
Landscape and hardscape are designed to provide a variety of areas for student dining, teaching and gathering, with access by a grand stair from the street. The stair does double duty, providing a place for students to gather with amphitheater style seating. The school is designed to accommodate public use and after-hours access; entry to the multipurpose room is at street level and does not require accessing the rest of the campus. The gym is adjacent to the courtyard at the lower level, allowing activities in the gym to spill into the courtyard.
