KIPP Compton Community School, Zest
KIPP Compton Community School is a 34,000-s.f., two-story, wood-framed TK-1 elementary school that offers curricula centered on social justice, career readiness, and civic engagement. The school offers tuition-free, college-preparatory, public charter school education, and is part of the national Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) network of 224 schools in 20 states and Washington, DC. The new school features 26 classrooms, accessory administration office space, and an MPR and play yard.
KIPP Compton Community School is a 34,000-s.f., two-story, wood-framed TK-1 elementary school that offers curricula centered on social justice, career readiness, and civic engagement. The school offers tuition-free, college-preparatory, public charter school education, and is part of the national Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) network of 224 schools in 20 states and Washington, DC. The new school features 26 classrooms, accessory administration office space, and an MPR and play yard.
Recognizing the close proximity of houses surrounding the site, the school is organized around a central, inward-facing courtyard filled with playfields, dining areas, and outdoor learning spaces. The site is organized to maximize outdoor spaces and connection with indoor spaces.
Oltmans Construction’s building scope included the demolition of the former existing building and site fixtures and the construction of a new building to include automatic fire sprinkler, voice-alarm, and fire-alarm systems; a passenger elevator; accessory administration office space; a 2,814-s.f. multi-purpose room and serving area; and an open play yard with synthetic turf. New site work also encompasses concrete pavement and parking spaces, a new landscape area, and a new SCE transformer.
Design
Berliner Architects studied the surrounding neighborhood and schools to inform the design scheme. The site is adjacent to residential and commercial areas, so sightlines and overall visibility were taken into consideration when designing the school scheme, making sure that the street-facing facades incorporated different materials, colors, and massing to give relief to the facades. The school was designed at a smaller scale to be comfortable for the elementary school students and incorporates warm, inviting color palettes.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, KIPP Compton Zest incorporates design elements that will help to reduce the transmission of viruses and germs, such as automatic entry doors, touch-less faucets, toilets, soap dispensers, and hand driers, as well as trough sinks outside the restroom for easy hand washing.
Square Footage
34,000 s.f. Building Area / 59,000 s.f. Site Area