Animo Pat Brown Charter High School

Client: Green Dot Public Schools 

Scope: Adaptive Reuse

Size: 40,000 SF

Completion: 2008

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

Animo Pat Brown Charter High School is a 550-student facility in the Florence area of Los Angeles, California. Berliner collaborated closely with Pacific Charter School Development and Green DOT Public Schools to convert a former 40,000 SF furniture factory into a state-of-the-art, 550-student high school. Berliner performed targeted community outreach to facilitate the change-of-use Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process with the County of Los Angeles, as well as post-occupancy interviews. The school opened within 12 months, including design, CUP, permitting and construction.

Designed to create a Small School Environment, the building is organized around wide hallways that serve as streets and plazas, creating natural points for gathering and informal learning. A large outdoor field provides much needed play space for students. The design incorporates sustainable design elements throughout, including the introduction of natural light for all learning spaces, and achieved a LEED Silver Certification.