Part of the East Side Union High School District, Andrew P. Hill High School is the only district high school to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Opened in 1956, Carducci Associates collaborated with the architect, district, and school members to update the large central plaza. Ensconced between education buildings and the school’s pool facilities, the plaza’s redesign has restored the heart of the campus. In addition to seat walls, shaded furnishings, and new plant beds that help treat stormwater, a large heritage tree was preserved for much-needed natural shade. Custom Corten steel screens artfully curve to enframe the performance space. An assembly of punctured screens forms a forest canopy towering over the performance space. The second smaller screen incorporates the school’s mascot: the falcon. The screens combined serve as backdrop elements for the plaza’s performance stage, instill school pride, and inspire students to soar beyond the possibilities.

Outstanding Project in Renovation, Adaptive Reuse, & Restoration, Learning By Design Architectural and Interior Design Awards, Fall 2018