Davis Senior High School STEM Building

Multidisciplinary learning hub breaks down barriers between STEM students

A site previously used for underutilized tennis courts at the campus entrance was repurposed for a new two-story, 37,000-square-foot STEM facility focused on finding new ways to encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary learning.

Designers organized classrooms and labs around a flexible commons to support cross-pollination between science, math, healthcare and art students. Small seating clusters encourage peer-to-peer connections; operable partitions open adjacent classrooms into larger zones for science fairs and exhibitions. A wide social stair hosts lectures, performances and a loyal lunch crowd.

The design intentionally blurs the boundaries between STEM subjects, creating flexible environments that can support different disciplines and different types of learning. Mobile fume hoods, shared lab infrastructure and reconfigurable furniture allow educators to quickly shift classrooms to support current needs.

Two distinct outdoor learning environments extend the interdisciplinary focus. Surrounding the decorative downspouts, landscape architects shaped a terraced garden with shade trees and boulder seating to support informal learning. Native plantings and flow-through planters filter stormwater and support environmental science activities. On the opposite side, a shaded yard and second-story balcony was carved out for physics experiments and hands-on projects that are too messy for indoor classrooms.

The integrated design team studied site drainage and energy models to inform development of the distinctive roof form, which channels stormwater and bounces indirect light into the commons. Exterior sun-shading helps balance daylight and solar heat, reducing energy use while contributing to the building’s distinctive, welcoming presence on campus.