CALIFORNIA STREET CAMPUS UPDATE | JUNE 2024 |
Dear UHS Community,
The California Street Campus construction is rapidly progressing. We recently completed the structural steel phase with a 350-ton capacity mobile crane which installed and hoisted the final structural steel framing into position. Exterior wall framing has begun and the basement level interior framing and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in is ongoing. On April 30th, donors and community members gathered to sign and witness the hoisting of the final steel beam of our structural framework.
|
|
|
CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT: SCIENCE LABS |
The California Street Campus will hold Physics, Biology, and Chemistry labs, as well as a maker space classroom. These spaces will be LEED Platinum certified and net zero energy so the building itself will serve as a teaching device for sustainability and building science. All the science classrooms will be located in the same building on the same floor, for the first time in the school's history. Nearby faculty offices and outdoor terrace spaces will facilitate collaboration and interconnection, and serve as an extension of the classrooms.
|
|
|
We asked Science Department Chair, Rochelle DeVault to describe what the new science spaces mean to her.
"Science Faculty have been working closely with the architects and HERA Laboratory Planners throughout the last couple of years on the design of the lab classrooms. Our department is most enthusiastic about the ease of accessibility of labs and unity of the program into one building. The design also includes ADA-compliant lab spaces for greater accessibility. |
|
|
|
The Physics program is procuring upgraded equipment, such as telescopes, and we are looking forward to more flexible classrooms. The Chemistry program retains its flexible seating model that allows for discussion-based inquiry in class, group, & pair settings separate from lab bench work with upgrades to prep spaces. And finally, the Biology team is excited to finally be in the same building as everyone else! And we will have south-facing windows that help us with plant and algae labs.
|
|
|
Our new maker space will have a dedicated workshop located at the back of the classroom with room for hardware and power tools with the classroom space up front for instruction. As the Environmental Science person on the team, I am eager to actually work and teach in a LEED-certified building. This gives me tangible application for so many of the concepts we cover in class, including energy conservation and renewable energy usage, water conservation, and sustainable design.”
|
Meet Nerissa Jemmotte, AIA, NCARB, senior laboratory architect and associate at HERA Laboratory Planners. HERA is an award-winning laboratory consulting firm, providing programming, planning, and design for science projects across the country and around the world. |
|
|
|
Nerissa has enjoyed working with UHS during the design phase, creating labs that are uniquely focused to meet the pedagogy of each teacher. These science classrooms are flexible enough to adapt to the new technology and foster active learning now, and into the future.
When asked what her focus is, Nerissa said “My goal is to create well-designed science classrooms that are safe for teachers, students, and all other users. |
|
|
The UHS community can feel confident that their students can focus on the unique UHS STEM curriculum, learning in spaces designed to their specific needs. The new laboratories will encourage experimentation and foster independent learning at UHS.” |
|
|
Continue looking for future updates as the vision for the UHS California Campus becomes a reality over the coming year. Our heartfelt thanks to the many people who have made this possible. If you’re interested in seeing the site in person, please reach out to shaundra.bason@sfuhs.org to schedule a time to tour the site.
|
|
|
|
