Burlingame Intermediate School Classroom Modernization

Burlingame School District

The Burlingame Intermediate School Classroom Modernization delivers a vision for a twenty-first century learning facility that supports this school. Beginning with a planning process including students and community members, the project had a simple program – modernize twenty classrooms and solve accessibility along a steep hillside connecting five classroom buildings.

Each building displays an education exhibit with immersive graphics depicting ecozones along a transect from the Pacific Ocean to the San Francisco Bay.

Our concept fosters environmental awareness in the school community, and improves wayfinding on the campus.

Learning Environment

The original classrooms had not been substantially modernized since the school opened in 1953. Interim improvements left exposed electrical conduits and internet cables throughout the learning environment. Finishes and systems were dated and did not support modern education.

Design

The finger-plan classroom buildings step up a very steep hill, and we used this accessibility challenge as a form-generator to dramatically change the exterior environment and provide new outdoor learning and socialization spaces that did not previously exist.

The main axis of the school was made accessible along gentle paths that weave through courtyards within the finger plan, activated by new outdoor learning spaces.

Community Environment

Including students in the planning process helped build community excitement about the plan. This middle school campus is the one school in the District that all students attend, drawing students from small neighborhood-based elementary schools. Community identification with the campus is strong, and we tapped into that during our planning process to gain valuable input.

Educational Exhibit

We selected accents for each building from colors found in each ecozone. As a wayfinding tool, color provides visual clues and helps differentiate what were otherwise identical buildings.

High Performance

New windows and window coverings provide better natural lighting without glare, and new indirect LED lights provide better quality light while saving energy. Ceiling fans reduce air stratification and improve thermal comfort in both heating and cooling modes, while new ceilings improve light reflectance, compliment the original mid-century design, and provide flexibility for future technology.