Vista del Mar Middle School I San Ysidro, CA

This project converted an existing elementary school, Vista Del Mar K-3, into a middle school serving grades 7 and 8. Three 1,400 SF kindergarten classrooms were converted into middle school science laboratories with specialized services, including gas service, fire sprinklers, lab hoods, and eye and body showers. Design work included reconstruction of the existing kindergarten restrooms into accessible adult restrooms. Site work included ADA, safety and sidewalk improvements, landscaping, and water mitigation work because the existing site erroneously sloped toward the classroom buildings.

The master plan supported the district’s educational program by optimizing the use of existing facilities while maintaining neighborhood schools. The district’s enrollment is now more evenly distributed across schools, which allows for flexible operations and provides all 7th and 8th grade students with the opportunity to attend a middle school oriented toward STEM education. 

Aguilar Architects, Inc. provided the architectural, MEP, civil, landscape, and FF&E services for the laboratories compound. The project took the following considerations into account:

• High Performance, LEED Silver equivalent  

• 21st century classroom and learning environment, per CDE guidelines

• Digital information and robotics’ technologies learning tools.