9.26.2024
By Randy Robbins, AIA, LEED AP
School staff and students, San Diego Unified School District staff, and AVRP Studios recently celebrated both a ribbon cutting and a groundbreaking on the same day for Building “D” the new home for a multi-purpose/gymnasium facility and 4 classrooms, and the commencement of construction for a new two-story classroom building housing 18 classrooms with 8,500 sf of outside play area.
“That was quite an experience – participating in both a ribbon cutting for a brand-new building and a groundbreaking with shovels and dirt for a future building” AVRP Studios’ Randy Robbins said. “You don’t see that very often.”
AVRP Studios has completed new design for the majority of the Albert Einstein Academy Charter Elementary School located in the South Park neighborhood in San Diego. Construction has been ongoing since August 2022. The project is being completed in phases and the school, which serves students from TK through 5th grade, has remained open during both the design and construction phases. The campus is approximately 200,000 square feet and originally opened in 1908. Current work began in 2021 and is expected to be complete in 2027.
AVRP Principal Randy S. Robbins, AIA, the lead designer said, “it has been an honor to work on this project”. During the design process, Randy noted that the building forms are inspired by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at the Albert Einstein Academy Charter School through international architecture and art. Randy had shown precedent images (photos taken on a recent European trip) and noted that proposed building forms reflect the barrel vault roof forms of the train stations that are “connecting people” throughout Europe and beyond as well as local inspiration on the botanical building in Balboa Park to acknowledge the importance of the gardening programs at the school.
Regarding the open space, Randy explained that the forms and patterns in the spaces between buildings are inspired by the work of international artists working in the 1930s, primarily from the Bauhaus, to create a framework for the insertion of teaching areas, project areas, landscaped areas, play areas etc.
About Albert Einstein Academy. From their website:
Albert Einstein Academy Charter Elementary School (AEACES) is a TK through 5th grade school located in the South Park neighborhood in San Diego, CA.
We are proud to offer the world-renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to all students. As a free public charter school, we never charge tuition of any kind. The motto that distills our mission and vision is “Teaching our children today to advance our shared humanity tomorrow.”
Albert Einstein Academies, the first authorized public charter schools with a K-8 International Baccalaureate continuum in San Diego, educates children to thrive and contribute as active thinkers in the world.
Tony Manolatos is a public affairs specialist based in San Diego, and AVRP Studios is one of his clients.
About AVRP Studios: In recent years, AVRP Studios has completed numerous educational projects in Southern California County including both public and private projects, from Elementary through Higher Education. Celebrating 45+ years of creativity and achievements, the firm and its principals have earned more than 150 design awards, including multiple Gold Nugget Grand Awards from PCBC, a list that includes Grand Awards in 2023 and 2022. AVRP originated in 1976, when Doug Austin began a small design firm out of his home. Today, the firm has designed numerous iconic projects both domestically and internationally. The firm’s project types include urban infill, mixed-use, housing, education, corporate office, multigenerational space, healthcare and more. The firm is led by three principals: Douglas H. Austin, FAIA, LEED AP, MAIBC; Christopher T. Veum, AAIA, IIDA; and Randy Robbins, AIA, LEED AP.