Situated on 53.5 acres of land, Pioneer Valley High School is one of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s largest campuses. The 298-seat performing arts center is one of the newest additions to the school and it features a full fly tower stage, a lobby, dressing room, lighting/AV control booth, three teaching stations and an outdoor stage area.
Masonry was chosen as the primary construction material because of its durability, sophisticated style and its ability to give the building its own sense of identity while also complementing the established architectural vocabulary of the campus. Additionally, the density of the concrete provides outstanding acoustical value. The concrete masonry unit structure is accented with the use of curtain wall glass on the front of the building, creating balance in the building’s form and transparency for the main entry and lobby area.
The design of the building has both a secured student access point and a separate public entrance, which allows for monitoring of each entry into the facility. Performing arts teachers, music teachers, community members and staff were all part of the decision making process, ensuring that everyone’s opinion was considered for the new design. The new Performing Arts Center is the heart of the District’s theatre program.
