A school designed to draw inspiration from the major themes established during visioning: freedom, creativity, and empathy

Gunn Junior High and Fine Arts and Dual Language Academy

When Gunn FADL (Fine Arts and Dual Language) Academy was facing low enrollment, our team was there to help.

Looking to reinvigorate the community and bring a new life to the campus, the school’s capacity was increased to create a home for both the neighborhood students and the existing Gunn FADL students. Our team designed a new area that would become the “SWAMP”: a student-centered heart of the school that serves as a nexus of daily student activity. To ensure all students felt as one, our team facilitated a visioning process to create a “house” concept. Finalizing the brand for each house involved creating an animal totem based on each house's core principles—they also serve as a reminder that each house is a part of creating a sense of community. The fine arts program, along with the dual language curriculum, was designed to spark creativity and connect students to other cultures and backgrounds—creating an empathy towards different cultures will allow Gunn students to thrive as culturally responsible citizens.

With the project now complete, the students at Gunn have a school where they can learn, thrive, and connect.