“All the great works of humans have been in cooperation with each other.” This quote from Pat Hyndman’s inspired the design of the Lake Murray location of Charter School of San Diego. The school serves students through a radically different model by providing students with a free, public individualized learning option in their neighborhood. Putting students first in education, the school focuses on improving student achievement, excellence through innovation, visionary leadership, and self-improvement.

The design team faced the challenge of creating a Learning Center of the Future within an existing outdated bank building. The Team of owner, designer, architect and general contractor worked in collaboration to create a space that would uplift the student learning experience. Careful consideration was given to space planning to provide individualized learning experiences for group and independent learning. The open resource center area features clustered teaching areas and lounge learning areas.

Glass enclosed student / teacher huddle areas and a conference room are located around the space’s perimeter. Glass writing boards with the ability to change from frosted to transparent are used to keep spaces open and allow teacher visibility from all angles. Colored LED lighting allows teachers to control color, to integrate it into their teaching, and immediately change the mood of the space. A lecture about volcanos with red lighting takes learning to a whole new level!

The designer and architect utilized all of the 5000 sq. ft. space. Sculptural curved LED lighting is hung in the two story open ceiling and the loft on the second floor became a teacher work zone. Stepped lounge seating is incorporated under the stairs. Art and Science hub provides students with flexible learning space for science experiments, tech learning and art zone. Color infused carpet and wall graphics invigorate the space.

The Pat Hyndman Center has proven to be student favorite. Attendance is high and students enjoy the space so much that they spend extra time in the learning environment, proving that working together we can Transform Lives!