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COSTANO GYMNASIUM & CLASSROOM BUILDING
EAST
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Photography:
Michael H. Ikeda Photography
The new Costano Gymnasium Classroom building provides recreational needs for the youth in East Palo Alto, expanded learning classrooms, and a state-of -the-art computer center. The new building now adds a striking image to University Avenue, with its contrasting concrete masonry block and colorful exterior corrugated walls and roof.
The selection of precision 8” x 8” x 16” concrete masonry units for the gym’s exterior walls was based on durability, budget, and low maintenance. The Architects wanted a building that would create a more inviting appeal by integrating layers of dark charcoal block with the more common grey concrete masonry units. The layered contrasting blocks in effect create a scaling transition from the tall gymnasium to the lower building mass for the classroom areas.
The gymnasium’s barrel steel roof and trusses are supported on concrete masonry columns, which are expressed on the interior walls. The gymnasium, the fi rst in this school district, not only serves as a multi-purpose assembly space for school activities and graduations, but also for the greater community functions, including performing arts. The gymnasium has a regulation sized basketball court with an accessible stage, community kitchen and servery. The bright orange canopy entry and lobby adjoin the gym and the academic wing to the five new instructional classrooms and computer center.
ARCHITECT:
Barcelon & Jang
Architecture
315 Bay Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
Wayne Barcelon, AIA
Principal
Darlene Jang, AIA
Principal
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:
Kam Yan Associates
Structural Engineering
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Turner Construction Company
MASONRY CONTRACTOR:
Milo Masonry
BLOCK PRODUCER:
Calstone Company, Inc.
OWNER:
Ravenswood City School District
