Natural Light Unto My Path
The new student services facility will act as a gateway between the academic and administrative components of the project, providing a pedestrian link from the new expanded parking area into the heart of the campus. Internal campus circulation and linkages are reinforced with enhanced paving, landscaping, and accent lighting all integrated into a "walk of faith," which is symbolic of the life of Christ. A lighted tower provides clear identification of the new entry and is clad in a rustic Jerusalem stone.
Additionally, the facility will provide Valley Christian High School students with four state-of-the-art science/lab classrooms that will be used for Advanced Placement (AP) study, five general use classrooms, and a student academic support center. Each classroom is enhanced with 12-foot high ceilings and expansive glazing for maximum natural daylighting to reduce the need for artificial illumination.
"Valley Christian High School's new student services facility exemplifies LPA's expertise in designing physical environments to support and encourage a higher level of education," said Jon Mills, principal at LPA Inc. "The new facility will provide students with a better quality environment in which to learn."
The first project within the overall master plan was a small classroom building on the middle school portion of the campus, completed in 2004. The project included approximately 7,000 square feet of new construction with two fine art classrooms, a computer lab, and a science classroom.
"Students, staff, and administration are looking forward to opening the doors of the new student services building," said Dr. Kevin Kaemingk of Valley Christian Schools. "The forthcoming expansion and continued renovation is part of our ongoing capital campaign, ‘Building on the Legacy.' We feel this well set a new standard for private schools and Christian education as we seek to prepare students to make a difference for Jesus Christ."
The high school's future expansion plans feature approximately 142,000 square feet of new construction and renovation adding modern classrooms, a performing arts theater, a chapel, a fine arts building, a gymnasium complete with locker rooms, enhanced athletic fields, and a stadium adaptable to the school's various athletic programs. Specific dates for the subsequent projects are currently pending.
LPA partnered with Patterson Construction of Long Beach on this project.