The Award of Merit recognizes Newhall Net-Zero Elementary School’s high-performance design and student-centered spaces.
LPA Design Studios’ sustainable approach to school design was recognized in the 2024 CASH/AIA CA Leroy F. Greene Design & Planning Awards, considered the state’s most prestigious school design award.
Newhall Net-Zero Elementary School received an Award of Merit in the Project in Design category, marking the 46th time since 1991 the firm has received an award from CASH/AIA. LPA accepted the award with School Board President Sue Salomon and Director of Facilities Fred Palmer.
"The CASH/AIA award is about collaboration between designers, educators and communities. It’s a testament to Newhall School District’s commitment to go with us on this journey and push the boundaries of sustainable design and resilient communities.” — Kate Mraw, LPA Director of K-12
Situated in the Valencia Net-Zero Community, a planned residential neighborhood in California, the 87,000-square-foot campus uses a site-sensitive design strategy to address the area’s climactic challenges head-on.
Buildings are carefully positioned to shield students from the area’s often-punishing winds, enabling a program infused with outdoor learning spaces. Photovoltaic canopies satisfy all of the campus’s power needs while creating comfortable, protected outdoor areas for learning, socializing, playing, and dining.
"The CASH/AIA award is about collaboration between designers, educators and communities,” said LPA Director of K-12 Kate Mraw. “It’s a testament to Newhall School District’s commitment to go with us on this journey and push the boundaries of sustainable design and resilient communities.”
Throughout the campus, glazing is maximized to connect students with the outdoors. Playful colors and canted columns bring interest to the outdoor program areas, where students will spend most of their day. There is visual connection from one side of campus to the other, making both supervision and circulation easy.
A quad gives students a large space to gather and acts as spill-out space for the multi-purpose room. Shaded outdoor learning areas are sprinkled throughout and offer teachers and students outdoor classroom extensions with writable walls and technology.
