Center for Teaching and Learning

Mayfield Junior School

Scope: New Construction

Size: 18,000 SF

Completion: In Progress

Project Manager: Richard Berliner, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, ALEP

As a continuation of a Master Planning effort, Berliner Architects is currently designing a Center for Teaching and Learning at Mayfield Junior School in Pasadena, CA. The design is centered around the building becoming a metaphorical “tree” with a narrow base and wide canopy, and that as you travel up you encounter additional spaces that provide coverage above the ground floor. The main entry brings you into the two story library that has connections to a variety of learning, teaching, and work spaces. The library becomes the connective spaces that hold the other program elements together, and is composed of many different informal spaces that are centered around allowing spontaneous access to knowledge. The learning resource center, which provides tutoring and individual support to students, is balanced between both floors and provides a variety of learning environments for the students: background noise and focused quiet spaces, bright natural light and cozy indoor light, interior spaces with views of nature and exterior spaces with views of the world. Ground floor science and maker classrooms open up to the exterior campus spaces for projects to be taken outside and worked on in groups. On the second floor, deep roof overhangs provide shaded balconies for further science classrooms to open up onto to expand the use of the classrooms. These features of simple shed roof overhangs, sliding doors, and awning windows, allows for passive ventilation in the enjoyable Pasadena climate. Combined with a low-embodied carbon cross laminated timber structure, the building will be a showcase of sustainable architecture.