Schoolyards that provide views and access to nature can elevate students’ minds, bodies, and spirits. And yet, so many urban school grounds are predominantly asphalt. As designers, parents, and community members, Studio-MLA knows the places where our children spend the majority of their time shape them as citizens and as the next generation of environmental stewards. We’ve worked with Los Angeles Unified School District, not-for-profits, private firms, and public agencies to convert primarily asphalt school yards into green sanctuaries to support learning and social, mental, and physical health.
MAS Schools – A Proposition 84 Urban Greening Planning Grant program for LAUSD and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps to create living, sustainable school grounds for Manual Arts High School, Berendo Middle School, and Carthay Elementary School. VISIT MAS SCHOOLS →
DROPS – Drought Response Outreach Program for Schools – State Water Resources Control Board selected six LAUSD campuses to receive $1 million each to design and implement low impact development (LID) projects that highlighted community and student engagement. Partners include Council for Watershed Health, Los Angeles Audubon, and TreePeople. Studio-MLA is designing the Webster Middle School campus.
Eagle Rock Elementary School Greening Project – The first LAUSD School to implement a Proposition 84 Stormwater Grant, Eagle Rock Elementary’s new schoolyard was called “the crown jewel” of LAUSD’s greening program by Mark Hovatter, LAUSD Director of Facilities, at the ribbon cutting. Over 17,000 square feet of asphalt was removed and replaced with living landscape. Studio-MLA designed and oversaw construction of the schoolyard.