Newark Memorial
High School
Student Commons

Cafeteria Renovation
& Expansion

Newark Unified School District
Newark, California

This project’s key aspiration was a fresh and inviting 'face' to the primary student entry to the campus. The design also accommodates multiple student and community functions; large group instruction, large screen film and video presentations, student government activities, student dances, etc. Food service now includes self-serve student food delivery, additional food preparation capabilities, large-scale refrigeration, large-scale dry storage and portable food cart storage. The existing structure was seismically retrofitted and the renovated interiors created a more open and inviting space.
Students, staff and community were all involved in the needs assessment of the original facility and the vision if its future. The planning process included open workshops and the active pursuit of opinions from the facility’s primary users – the students.
The design reflects the need to soften a campus that appeared walled off from the community and that was not inviting to its own students. The use of new soft sweeping forms and a new series of building openings were used as a rebuttal to the previous long blank walls. This material selection provides an extremely durable and handsome solution to a myriad of issues facing public facilities.
The community utilizes this facility extensively due to its flexibility for accommodating large-scale instructional and socializing capabilities. The integrated design of audio-video systems caters to both academic and social gatherings. The use of fully integrated data and delivery technology, along with the very large-scale projection screen, provides for community services only once imagined.
Prior campus facilities were built in many phases. These prior facilities were in need of a catalyst that could provide a more invigorating campus environment and a more inviting campus entry. The role of sustainability in the planning and design of this facility resides in decisions regarding enduring materials, ample natural light and the ability to naturally ventilate the space. The design of natural light clerestories throughout the space provide great energy savings while providing a more comfortable space.