BCA led two separate committees through the process of designing this new school in an effort to build consensus in a collaborative manner throughout the District and community. The core of this design is to convey an attitude of “Student Achievement” in a high quality, safe educational environment.

The 53-acre site is surrounded by a community that will eventually be occupied with residential homes in the growing north side of Merced. The interconnected buildings wrap around a large central landscaped quadrangle that provides exceptional visual supervision. It also allows the public adequate after-hours access to the 1,400-seat gym, the 450-seat proscenium performing arts theater, the 300-seat cafeteria and the library.

The sweeping curve of the main two-story building was designed to express the feeling of simple elegance to the community of Merced. It is designed as a Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) facility and was built with durable and energy efficient materials. One of the fundamental principles of the design: “if students are provided with a quality learning environment they will respond with pride, commitment and respect.”