Planning & Design Meetings Math/Social Sciences Department Schematic Design Meeting No. 2 11/11/2009 - Minutes
Palo Alto HS Math/History SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
11 November 2009
P. 1
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL
Palo Alto Unified School District
MEETING NOTES
DATE: 11 November 2009, 12:15pm-1:00pm
SUBJECT: Math/Social Sciences Department Schematic Design Meeting No. 2
ATTENDEES: Radu Toma, Paly Math IS Aimee Lopez, OCMI
Christopher Ades, DLM Eric Bloom, Paly History IS
Arne Lim, Paly Charlotte Harris, Paly
The following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. Aimee Lopez (AL) called the meeting to order and Chris Ades (CA) gave a brief
synopsis of the progress made to date on the interior and exterior design of the
proposed Math/Social Sciences classroom building.
2. CA presented an updated set of enlarged floor plans and interior elevations. These
incorporated the comments from the previous Schematic Design meeting. The
group studied it in detail and the ensuing discussion was as follows:
Office Area (including Staff and Work areas)
Radu Toma (RT) explained how it would be nice if teachers could circulate to the
Staff Room without going through the Resource Room and atrium. He liked the
way a hallway was added on the 1st floor for the Social Sciences department.
RT related that his department preferred to keep the Conference Room per the
original design, which was reflected in the new drawings, but they wanted only
two doors into the room from the hallways and no door from the IS office.
RA liked the way the new copy room was located but had several comments on
how it could be improved. First, the staff restroom could be modified to allow
more storage room and second, the door should be moved to the angled wall.
RA noticed that the access gates at the covered walkway were missing and CA
said he would put them back.
CA noted that the Math department might like a separate hallway to the Office
Area like the one on the 1st floor for the History department. RT agreed and after
some discussion it was agreed to copy this hallway on the 2nd floor. CA added
that besides better access for teachers it also gave more direct access to
students wishing to visit teachers’ offices.
EB asked for clerestory windows at the Conference Room wall facing the
hallway.
RT and EB asked for solid walls at the Conference Room walls facing the Work
areas and hallways with glass at the Atrium only.
Palo Alto HS Math/History SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
11 November 2009
P. 2
Classrooms
Eric Bloom (EB) asked that two classrooms (CR12 & CR13) have a folding
partition between them to allow space for large classes or gatherings which
occur on a regular basis. RT also wanted the same feature at CR13 and CR14.
Both EB and RT wished that the partition be soundproof as it would be in a
closed position most of the time. They also wanted the wall to have tack-able
surfacing. CA agreed to incorporate these changes to the drawings.
RT asked that the small tack-able surfaces be omitted and that one wall be
dedicated to tack-able surfacing. He reiterated that the marker boards should be
maximized along the whole length of two walls, if possible.
Both RT and EB liked the overall arrangement of classrooms and expressed a
desire that the windows be maximized to allow for more natural light. RT noted
that he’d like windows above the entry doors.
RT noted that the projection screen should be mounted on the ceiling directly
over the “teaching wall”.
RT expressed a desire for more cabinets along the hallway walls which could
extend the whole length of the windows.
Exterior
EB and RT liked the exterior design in general and RT had some comments relating
the large roof canopy over the entryway. He asked that it be extended some more
to allow more space for informal gatherings. CA noted that extending the canopy
would be limited by the budget but that it would be considered.
RT asked if the large stairway at the entry be reconfigured so that if gave easier
access to students entering the building and going to the 2nd floor. He thought that
the majority of students would use these stairs and that an “L” shape was better. CA
agreed and said that he would revisit the stair geometry to free up space at the
plaza and make it more inviting.
RT and AL thought the building might benefit from picking up some of the detailing
of the older campus building like the Tower building and Haymarket Theater. CA
said he was working on this and would show progress at the next meeting.
3. RT and EB asked that the drawings remain with them so they could discuss them
further with the staff. CA noted that he would review the changes with the design
team and update the drawings though some changes may not be possible due to
budget constraints.
END
Prepared by Christopher Ades of Deems Lewis McKinley. Please advise if you feel that any of the above
items are inaccurate or need further clarification or detail.
cc: Attendees
File
A1.1SCHEMATIC DESIGN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
2009 110011.17.2009DLM
D E E M S L E W I S M c K I N L E Y
T W E L V E G O U G H S T R E E T
S A N F R A N C I S C O C A 9 4 1 0 3
4 1 5 . 2 5 5 . 1 8 1 1 F A X 2 5 5 . 0 2 4 8Palo Alto Unified School District | Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto High SchoolA1.11
A1.2SCHEMATIC DESIGN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
2009 110011.17.2009DLM
D E E M S L E W I S M c K I N L E Y
T W E L V E G O U G H S T R E E T
S A N F R A N C I S C O C A 9 4 1 0 3
4 1 5 . 2 5 5 . 1 8 1 1 F A X 2 5 5 . 0 2 4 8Palo Alto Unified School District | Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto High SchoolA1.2
A5.1SCHEMATIC DESIGN
BUILDING SECTIONS
2009 110011.17.2009DLM
D E E M S L E W I S M c K I N L E Y
T W E L V E G O U G H S T R E E T
S A N F R A N C I S C O C A 9 4 1 0 3
4 1 5 . 2 5 5 . 1 8 1 1 F A X 2 5 5 . 0 2 4 8Palo Alto Unified School District | Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto High SchoolA5.1A5.1
DLMD E E M S L E W I S M c K I N L E YT W E L V E G O U G H S T R E E TS A N F R A N C I S C O C A 9 4 1 0 34 1 5 . 2 5 5 . 1 8 1 1 F A X 2 5 5 . 0 2 4 8Palo Alto Unified School District | Palo Alto, CAPalo Alto High SchoolSCHEMATIC DESIGNEXTERIOR ELEVATIONS
DLMD E E M S L E W I S M c K I N L E YT W E L V E G O U G H S T R E E TS A N F R A N C I S C O C A 9 4 1 0 34 1 5 . 2 5 5 . 1 8 1 1 F A X 2 5 5 . 0 2 4 8Palo Alto Unified School District | Palo Alto, CAPalo Alto High SchoolSCHEMATIC DESIGNEXTERIOR ELEVATIONS