Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School

This progressive, sustainable school believes that ‘joyful learning today leads to meaningful achievements tomorrow”

Tarbut V’Torah (TVT) Community Day School promotes student-centric learning with indoor and outdoor learning spaces. With the addition of new MAKER + science, STEAM and Fitness buildings, the re-imagined campus exterior promotes the ability for learning to happen anywhere.

Established in 1991, TVT is an existing 21.5-acre K-12 community day school in Irvine, California. This project expands on the original site, bringing the facilities and exterior spaces in-line with today’s 21st century educational and instructional needs. TVT embraces a landscape of innovation while marring two goals: using the outdoors as a seamless extension of the learning spaces, and proudly telling a story that runs deep and is aligned with the educational goals of the community.

The newly re-imagined campus exterior is a place that inspires, allows for reflection, provides opportunities for exploration, and shares the culture of Israeli people to new generations. Divided into three topographic levels, the school is broken down by grade levels K-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

By extending the functionality of the lower campus's classroom outdoors, students have access to a new amphitheater, growing grounds and farm, writable surfaces, outdoor art courtyard, interactive water play creek, and new play structures to challenge students and promote health and learning. Child-size huts were designed for reading nooks and can be transformed into Sukkots during religious festivals. The school’s values are displayed brightly on a custom entry gate that welcomes students and visitors and is a reminder to the community the character attributes that are encouraged at TVT. Traditional playground features such as basketball half-courts, four square courts and ball walls were also included, providing plenty of options to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.

As an environmental concern, stormwater was designed to be collected and treated on site. The landscape design manages and directs water into infiltration basins that are seamlessly located in the surrounding landscape. The campus also includes a 4,000-square-foot green roof, providing color, texture and visual interest.