Lila Bringhurst Elementary School
New Campus
Integrated into a new high-density urban development in Fremont, Calif., the 1,100-student Lila Bringhurst Elementary School was designed to respond to the scale and character of its surroundings. With neighbors including Tesla, a new Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and the mixed-use and high-tech office buildings planned for the area, the campus’s design reflects the creativity and innovation of Silicon Valley.
Designed in collaboration with BISBEE Architecture + Design, the new transitional kindergarten (TK) through fifth grade elementary school includes classroom buildings, a multi-use building and a school office, as well as a Learning Center, Media Center and Flex Lab. Fitting within a relatively constrained five-acre site, two-story construction maximized space without compromising quality. Double loaded corridors increase building efficiency and provide lively circulation, including widenings for informal gatherings. Encouraging a sense of community, the large classroom building provides a two-story entry lobby and campus views, including from the second-level corridor and lobby into the library below. A bridge on the second story connects the two classroom buildings for ease of movement.
The first new school built in the Fremont Unified School District in nearly 30 years and adjacent to a four-acre joint-use park, Lila Bringhurst is a community hub and landmark for this new part of the city. Sustainable materials and practices were prioritized throughout design and construction, including on-site storm water treatment and bio-swales, solar-ready buildings, natural lighting, skylights, energy efficient electrical and mechanical systems and low flow plumbing fixtures.
