The gymnasium, looking up at the exposed truss system.
The new gymnasium at Lagunitas Middle School in Marin County provided the attractive school with a much needed facility. In respect for the natural environment the building utilizes recycled materials and on-site photovoltaic solar panels.
The upstairs youth center
This 10,800 square foot regulation gym includes a basketball court, bleachers, and is suited to all kinds of activities requiring a large space. During school hours, the Gym will be used for school based physical fitness, health, and athletics. After school it will be managed by the San Geronimo Valley Community Center for community use, including sports leagues, camps, recreation, and educational programs. In addition the space can be used for community meetings and celebrations.
The main entrance to the building.
At the front of the building, upstairs, the 1600 sq. ft. Youth Center is made up of two rooms, one large and one small. It has been designed so that the two rooms can be opened up into one flexible space, able to be used for a wide range of activities. It overlooks the gym area, with a great bird’s eye view of the action on the court! Downstairs are bathrooms, storage, and the office. The Youth Center is a great place for kids to come together, plan activities (such as the popular middle school dances), get tutoring help, do homework, use computers, watch movies, engage in classes, and just hang out together.
The gymnasium set into the beautiful campus
An exposed wood and steel truss system not only adds an aesthetic quality to the project, but also allows for very large open spaces. These trusses were pre-manufactured offsite which dramatically reduced construction cost and time. The gymnasium’s spaces are designed to be very flexible to meet all of the districts needs. The simple elegant style was designed to fit into the existing context of the Lagunitas Middle School campus.
The upstairs of the gymnasium features main flexible spaces
Landscaping with native plants and using neutral building colors help blend the campus into it’s naturally stunning surroundings
The unique hallway at the main entrance to the gymnasium
The project was broken up into multiple phases, and each phase bid separately, saving the district a large amount of money. Extensive review and attention to detail dramatically reduced the number of revisions and change orders for this project, making the design and construction process more efficient.
A study model built by Persinger Architects