What Can You Do with That Closed School?

There is value in that former school site. A team of designers, representing different practices and disciplines, explored options for turning a closed school into a neighborhood asset that adds resources, generates revenue and addresses critical community needs.

School districts have more options than they may realize for underutilized facilities. As enrollments decline and needs shift, unproductive sites may be an opportunity to create new types of community centers, adding badly needed resources for districts in dense neighborhoods.

LPA designers from across disciplines and practices recently came together to develop alternatives for an 8.75-acre site, focusing on ideas that generate revenue and address broader community needs. They wanted to take a step back to look at some of the big ideas that can help districts find financial, social and environmental value in undervalued facilities.

“A closed school or excess land may seem like a challenge to address, but it can be a tremendous opportunity,” says LPA Senior Project Designer Lindsay Hayward. “Our goal was to develop ideas that can help districts consider a wider set of possibilities.”

Housing is typically the first priority. Many states, including California, are mandating that districts prioritize housing for any surplus land, adding another layer of complexity. In some cases, districts rent property to private schools or simply turn open land into park or recreation space.

The LPA team started their exploration around the foundation that a multilayered approach could produce options beyond single uses to create lasting community value. They based their work on real data, fiscal realities and replicable partnerships. An existing site was used: a shuttered elementary school in a California district that was undertaking its own analysis of the best way to marshal its resources. The LPA team included architects and landscape architects, as well as members of LPA’s mixed-use team, which has been working on a wide array of affordable- and supportive-housing projects.

The team began by exploring the history and needs of the test neighborhood but broadened the effort to explore challenges facing many districts and communities. Working within budget and resources, they looked at elements that might address larger issues, from food resources to the lack of open and flexible outdoor spaces.

Preserving open space became a key driver for the design discussions. Studies have shown that providing places for people to gather and exercise is an important contributor to child and community mental and physical health, and those places are in increasingly short supply in many neighborhoods.

“High-density neighborhoods are less likely to have open spaces, such as parks, for people to socialize and connect with nature,” says LPA Landscape Project Designer Lancelot Hunter. “We wanted to share multiple options for preserving this critical aspect of community well-being.”

Opportunities to share resources, reduce strains on existing resources and generate revenue were prioritized.

“Every piece of school land is a long-term discussion,” says Director of Landscape Architecture Kari Kikuta. “Our goal was to show that the revenue and community impact aren’t mutually exclusive — they can and should go hand in hand.”

Designers ultimately settled on three key concepts: an agrarian-themed site that focused on healthy food options; a hub for science and technology; and a mixed-use plan that integrates workforce housing and shared community resources.

Each finds opportunities to combine new amenities and generate revenue. The agricultural-rooted concept reflects the test district’s local character and includes a farm stand, café, rentable venue space and a commercial kitchen. The science center plan would create a combination STEM laboratory and incubator tech lab in a hands-on museum/park-like setting. The mixed-use concept focuses on the space around the housing, looking to address multiple issues.

“Workforce housing is an opportunity to shape a neighborhood,” says LPA Director of Mixed-Use Matt Winter. “We are able to work with public agencies and developers to deliver the required housing elements, while creating resources for the community.”

Each concept provides options that create meaningful community experiences and enhance a district’s budget. While there are pros and cons, each design illustrates the potential of a more creative, integrated and well-researched approach.

“The growing trend of districts controlling land they don’t need is likely to continue,” says Hayward. “The good news is districts can solve more than one problem with creative use of that land.”

URBAN AGRICULTURE CENTER

Agrarian-themed community hub creates a center for healthy eating and food resiliency.

Designers focused on the local agrarian history to develop a concept that addresses the pressing need for healthy food options in urban communities. Shared resources and elements that extend the district’s curriculum and goals were prioritized. Existing facilities would be repurposed to provide teaching spaces for gardening and cooking.

Community residents would be able to participate at every stage of food preparation, from farm to table, promoting a positive relationship with food. Communal areas offer badly needed spaces for local events, while also providing opportunities to generate revenue. A commercial kitchen creates rentable space to support local entrepreneurs, pop-up restaurants and catering businesses. The result supports urban farming, healthy eating and small business.

INNOVATION YARD

Center for scientific exploration, education and entrepreneurship inspires curiosity and learning.

In this concept, the site would be transformed into a celebration of science and exploration. In addition to creating a regional attraction, the center for hands-on learning would break down barriers and find synergy between STEM curriculums, local organizations and the business community, while bringing the excitement of science and technology to every age level.

Designers looked for opportunities to activate open space and address the needs of current programs. Spaces would host year-round science fairs and technology programs. Incubator space would aid startups and link students to real-world businesses. A café, retail space and a rentable venue would help expand the community and generate income. The balance of revenue generation and public access gives back to the community and spurs economic growth.

VALUE-ADDED WORKFORCE HOUSING

Affordable housing plan adds open space, shared resources and public amenities.

Designers focused on a housing option that maximized open space and shared resources. While zoning and financing options would affect any housing design, the mixed-use team created a configuration that maximized the number of units on the site, and preserved land for recreation and community facilities.

Flexible amenities extend district resources, while providing benefits for residents and the community. A sports field and amphitheater are rentable assets. Attributes like bike rentals and wellness outlets generate revenue, promote health and wellness, and make it a better place to live.