Oaks Christian Middle School

When Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village discovered that the adjacent manufacturing building was available across the coun­ty flood control channel, they saw it as a unique chance to expand their program by adding a middle school. We worked closely with faculty and staff to transition this 72,000 SF 2-story, tilt-up concrete and steel manufacturing building and parking lot into a com­plete middle school campus and link it with the existing high school campus across the channel. Each of the 3 school grades are organized around a common space where we opened the existing facade to let in natural light and visually connect the two campuses. A fourth area accommodates common laboratories, art rooms, and performance spaces. In order to keep the upper floor con­nected with the rest of the campus and in order to comply with the greater exiting and occupant load demand placed by the educational occupancy, two monumental stair towers were added. In addition to circulation, the stairs offer a chance to sit, gather and socialize. 

Site-work for the project includes a college-regulation softball field with artificial tur, 4 tennis courts, a student drop-off and pickup area, and a reconfigured parking layout.