Canyon Crest Academy was designed in response to unprecedented growth. A reinterpretation of the Mission Hills High School of the San Marcos Unified School District, the resulting facility is a vibrant symbol of education standing in the heart of the community.
The campus design reflects its natural topography with a terraced site and multi storied buildings. While the developer’s proposed grading plan would have created a single flat pad without regard for the natural qualities of the site, the Design team developed a more compatible terraced solution that was ultimately embraced by all. The result is opportunities for outdoor learning, social interaction of students and staff, easily supervised and defensible spaces, and an invigorating experience for students.
The site is master-planned to accommodate its ultimate shared use by a future 7-8 middle school and a community library. Originally, the community plan identified the future library site in such a way that it would limit the effective planning of this ultimate 7-12 school site. Through collaboration with City officials, adjacent landowners, and the master developer, the community plan was changed and the library site moved to provide for the successful final design solution. The school site is designed to respond to the architectural vocabulary of this new community and creates a civic opportunity for community use of the school’s primary facilities.
Terraced building designs allow the campus to integrate comfortably into its surrounding environment. This design response creates natural spaces for student socialization, respects natural view corridors, captures prevailing offshore breezes, and welcomes the surrounding community of business partners and families. Terraced lawns, canopy trees, and lookout points combine to offer a variety of spaces for students to enjoy.
Canyon Crest Academy is designed to achieve or exceed substantial compliance with Title-24 energy standards. Central plant and utility systems have been selected to provide flexible and energy efficient responses to the demands of this campus. Insulated translucent Kalwall systems are used to provide natural day lighting in athletic areas without energy losses. High performance equipment and materials are used throughout the campus.
