Serendipity School is a K-5 private school in the San Francisco Bay Area that renovated and expanded their current site to better serve their students. In addition to developing a campus master plan, Studio W Architects assisted the school in seeking approval from the City of Belmont to amend the property’s Site Utilization Plan via a Conditional Use Permit and Design Review Application. The renovated campus boasts contemporary learning environments that are consistent with today’s modern educational programs.

Phase 1 work concentrated on site improvements, including developing outdoor learning environments. We revitalized an underutilized hillside and incorporated plantings that blend into the environment and provide a natural habitat for native insects (such as bees) to return to the area. Trees from the site were recycled into seating and benches. Various site upgrades include a revised campus entry, campus courtyard, multiple student play areas and outdoor learning environments accessed by a raised boardwalk ADA ramping system, edible student gardens, an outdoor learning pavilion, hardcourt play area replacement and access easement with porous asphalt, paving and striping the existing parking lot and relocating an existing stormwater channel adjacent to the circulation path to increase student safety.

A new 4,800 square foot Gen7 modular building was added as part of Phase 2 and provides much needed auxiliary space, including a multipurpose space, art studio, tech lab, library, staff lounge, storage space and restrooms. The school’s existing building was renovated, thus positioning the administration office directly adjacent to the campus entry to improve wayfinding while also creating a more secure and controlled campus. The eastern façade of the existing building was also updated to develop a consistent architectural expression with the new Gen7 modular building and created an impactful campus identity.

CLIENT

Serendipity School

BUILDING AREA

50,000 SF

CONSTRUCTION COST

$8.6 million

STATUS

Completed 2022

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