El Segundo Enlists El Camino College Architecture Students to Create Visions
El Camino College had a sizeable presence in the City of El Segundo last month as the El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD) and the City of El Segundo Planning Division each solicited design ideas from El Camino’s architecture students for two separate outdoor projects. The projects involved students from two different architecture classes, “Design Studio 1” and “Design Studio 2,” and comprised of reimagining two different types of spaces within the City of El Segundo.
For both projects, students met with both District Management and City Staff to discuss the project criteria, which was followed by an analysis of the existing conditions, determination of the program, and the development of various design solutions. These student-designed projects helped the District and the City frame a conversation around the redesign of these outdoor spaces currently being contemplated. For the students, the exercises offered some insight into the professional processes and demonstrated the nexus between their academic efforts and the activities associated with an architecture practice.
The El Segundo presentations began with the proposals for outdoor learning spaces at the District’s Center Street Elementary School on Friday, May 12. For this project, Design Studio 2 students were directed to develop a design for one of six spaces that exist in between and adjacent to the half dozen classroom buildings. Currently defined by blacktop surface, the spaces lack formal programming and design measures to support student learning. Each of the spaces were designed to be multi-functional and flexible as well as support the developmental stage associated with a specific grade. Further, the proposals addressed various environmental constraints and ecological opportunities to provide more greener and comfortable environments.
The students presented their findings and design proposals to a group of District staff, teachers and parents. One of the reviewers, Frank Glynn, a local architect and resident of El Segundo commented, “The students demonstrated a wide array of innovative strategies for creating outdoor learning in the interstitial spaces of the Center Street Campus,” he continued, “They are to be commended for the depth of research that went into envisioning age-appropriate solutions for each of the various grades.”
This was followed by presentations of a different type of outdoor space for the City’s Planning Commission on Thursday, May 25 associated with the El Segundo Civic Center Plaza. Originally built in 1956 and remodeled in 1975, the plaza is an anchor to many community events including festivals, celebrations and a weekly farmers market. This civic space currently poses several challenges including not enough soft surfaces for child interaction, a significant deficiency in shading, minimal landscaping, and a lack of place. As part of the El Segundo Downtown Specific Plan, Design Studio 1 students were asked to reimagine the space to accommodate more impromptu activity, to encourage a variety of activities for different ages and to become an economic catalyst for revitalizing the downtown district. Upon receiving draft findings that highlighted the community’s priorities, the students analyzed and designed solutions that represented the City’s history and context.
Assistant Professor of Architecture at El Camino College, Marc Yeber stated, “the students’ work was remarkable in their use of the City’s iconography as the seed to cultivate their respective design processes. Further, their project outcomes helped to embed a visual narrative about El Segundo while addressing the functional needs of the space.” In fact, the designs employed notions of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, the aerospace industry or even the Chevron Refinery as design cues to help define their space. “As a result, the solutions were specific to the plaza in El Segundo which is a hallmark for creating a sense of place,” he added.
Combined, these two design opportunities elevated the student work and offered El Camino College students an unexpected enrichment to their academic endeavors. Such collaboration with outside institutions and professional partners has become a key component in immersing students in their educational experience. The Architecture Department at El Camino College offers an in-depth and comprehensive curriculum designed to launch students into a university architecture program or a career path within the architecture field.