Tour- Irvine - TOUR IS FULL

ABSTRACT: 

THIS TOUR IS FULL

1) Portola High School

Portola High the new comprehensive high school for the highly respected Irvine Unified School District was guided by an intensive strategic plan and educational specification process. The result is an innovative 21st Century learning community. The tour will include insights from campus leadership, district planning staff and students discussing their multi-year, interdisciplinary passion projects.

The visit includes the Student Union, Innovation Lab, Learning Commons, 700-seat theater, dedicated teacher collaboration rooms and multi-use Student Collaboration spaces.
Portola High School boasts a WiFi system capable of up to five devices per person across the entire campus indoors and out. Video monitors, projectors and a robust fiber optic system provide many ways to access and present information. Furniture is flexible and nestable throughout the campus, allowing each space to convert readily from one learner-centered arrangement to another.
The class schedule gives students flexibility and options in selecting their courses.

The 244,000 SF campus has fifteen one and two-story concrete block buildings that house 2,400 students on 43 acres that was formerly part of the-the El Toro Marine Corps Air station.
Sustainable features include low water, low maintenance landscape, a passive green roof system irrigated with captured HVAC condensate water, solar panels and electrochromic glass that darkens in response to the sun intensity and position to optimize daylighting.

OBJ #1  Understanding the planning process for an innovative comprehensive high school
OBJ #2  Understand how the campus design supports 21st century learning, professional development and staff collaboration
OBJ #3  Learn how collaboration between the school district, design team and construction team improved outcomes, saved costs and construction time
OBJ #4  Learn how the actual day-to-day use of the facility meets or differs from the design goals from educators and learners

2) Mariners

With phase 1 completed, specifically:
• New CENTER FOR WORSHIP AND PERFORMING ARTS with adjacent PRE-FUNCTION area and ARTS
CONSERVATORY of classrooms
• New TK-KINDERGARTEN CENTER for EDUCATION
• New ROOFTOP GARDEN with outdoor agricultural science components
• Redesigned ATHLETIC CENTER to include 2nd story spectator viewing, fresh air accessibility, Athletic department offices suite, and premier hardwood flooring
• New MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY OUTDOOR PATIO upstairs and dedicated ELEMENTARY PATIO downstairs
• COVERED MIDDLE SCHOOL WALKWAY outdoor for quick access to Arts and electives wing

New WOODSHOP studio
• ELEVATOR to assist students with physical disabilities
• CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS including new AC units, new security fencing, partial outdoor aesthetic facade, upgraded Admissions and front

OBJ #1   Better understand Mariner’s instructional approach/ pedagogy.
OBJ #2   Understand design goals and space improvements to achieve those goals.
OBJ #3   How the physical environment can influence learning and support a variety of learning styles.
OBJ #4  Transformation of an existing warehouse space into a learning environment.

3) Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School

Tarbut V’Torah (TVT) is a private K-12 school in Irvine, California. TVT recently embarked on an effort to strengthen its curriculum to reflect 21st century learning concepts and provide programs geared towards science, engineering and arts, as well as spaces that support the whole child. The project results are spaces that foment critical thinking, creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Maker building; and spaces that support the upper school’s collaborative, integrated STEAM curriculum on a larger scale – with added specificity resulting from the school’s unique needs, including a blackbox, digital media lab, and editing suites to support the school’s robust film production program. Both buildings together total 25,000 square feet and are strategically located to complement the existing configuration, while reimagining previously underutilized outdoor areas into purposeful learning and social environments.

OBJ #1   Identify how the creative use of outdoor space can foster an appreciation for discovery and encourage physical activity and intellectual curiosity.
OBJ #2   Learn how a space can plan for future flexibility for changing technology or program in the space with exposed structure and movable power.
OBJ #3   Explore the many ways in which a flexible maker space can expand curriculum offerings, even augmenting social-emotional learning through a variety of space types that respond to unique learner needs, including huddle spaces, writable walls, and connections to nature.
OBJ #4   Discover sustainable strategies including a green roof, stormwater collection and bio-retention, natural ventilation and informed sun control.