air circulate throughout the communal eating area and extending it outdoors, providing more usable space. In the long term, the building’s flexible design will reduce the inevi - table cost of retrofitting the building when the time comes. As Huntley points out, the school’s needs are bound to change as the size of classes grow or shrink and new technologies are introduced. The number of students served by the district may fluctuate, and the building’s modu - lar design is well suited to expand the size of classrooms based on need. However, Huntley notes that the building’s modular design is also designed to accommodate things like program changes where the use of a space changes over time, saying “[a room’s] power, data, and floor vents are all modular, so they can shift and move if a wall has to move.” The viability of this design was first tested during construction when there was a program change in one part of the building, says Huntley. Despite the program change, there was minimal impact on the cost and schedule for the rest of the project, lending credibility to the design’s flexibility.
With its completion, the SAMOHI Discovery Building is set to put these unique features to good use. The building’s open design as well as its utilization of the Southern California climate creates an environ - ment that is not only comfortable, but also fertile ground for collabora- tion and improved access. The field of education is often a rapidly changing field, and new innovations in the field are changing the way students and teachers interact with one another. By providing a flexible space, the SAMOHI Discovery Building elevates the student’s social and educational interactions as well as their sense of community.
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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april 2022 csengineermag.com
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