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Renewing Community

In the neighborhood where Dena is located, it's been 50 years since a new school was constructed. The nearest elementary school is 108 years old and, before Dena opened, was overcrowded and on a year-round schedule. By relocating grades pre-Kindergarten through 2, the older school's population has been greatly reduced, and its schedule has returned to a traditional 180-day track. That is a significant improvement for working parents who no longer have to cope with different schedules for each of their children.

Separating the youngest children from the older elementary students has other advantages. "These smaller learning communities really reflect what our neighborhood needs," says Romero. "They're also more intimate and easier to manage."

After several meetings with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and community members, architects Michael Rachlin, AIA and Richard Ingrassia, AIA, partners at Rachlin Architects, had a pretty clear understanding of what was needed to create a successful neighborhood school. Not only did it have to reflect the surrounding culture, it had to be a safe haven for young children.

The natural curve of the site provided the inspiration for the organization of the campus. In the center is the courtyard with stadium seating; around it are the administration and multipurpose buildings, creating a natural barrier to the streets. Perimeter fencing and a front entrance gate that remains locked during school hours provides an additional layer of security.

The adaptability of the center courtyard was a surprise to Romero. "Usually, we would use a multipurpose room, but this outdoor area serves the same purpose. And we can use it in ways that we couldn't indoors." says Romero. She has named the space "Palm Court."

Building Blocks

Within 25,000 square feet (2300 square meters), the architects have arranged two kindergartens, eight primary classrooms, the administrative complex, a library, a multipurpose building that features a soaring 25-foot (7.6-meter) ceiling with floor-to-ceiling glazing, a kitchen, and the courtyard.

The three buildings are distinct in shape, color, and design. Romero says the teachers use the geometric forms of the buildings as educational tools. Rachlin likes to think of them as playful building blocks. "There is a natural break [in maturity] between second and third graders, and that allowed us to create a playful school that might not have gone over with the older kids," he says.

Brightly colored stucco walls in shades of purple, red, and canary yellow reflect the cultural heritage of the community while large glass walls, custom-designed galvanized steel panels, and mesh give the complex a contemporary aesthetic.

Inside, the palette is more subdued, and details are thoughtfully restrained. Classrooms are designed to accommodate each educational level. With this in mind, the pre-K classroom includes private bathrooms, playground, and support areas.

In the kindergarten room, the architects added a coat rack and book bag hooks at a child-friendly height. Other custom details, such as built-in furniture for the computers, had been part of the design but were deleted for budgetary reasons.

To accommodate the arc of the site, the building adopted a curve that is imperceptible in the classrooms, but which creates potentially awkward spaces in between. Rather than let those spaces be underused, the architects designed custom bench seating to create nooks for reading or informal meeting. Romero says she and the teachers have found these unusual spaces to be extremely useful for gatherings or private meetings.   >>>

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Seen from the east, the Dena Primary Center, East Los Angeles, by Rachlin Architects. Photo: Tom Bonner The secured main entrance as seen from Palm Court. Photo: Tom Bonner Main entrance to the Dena Primary Center. Photo: Tom Bonner Classroom interior. Photo: Christopher Covey Inside the multipurpose room. Photo: Tom Bonner Site plan. Image: Rachlin Architects Floor plan. Image: Rachlin Architects Canopy of the multipurpose/ kitchen building. Photo: Tom Bonner   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.