Camino Nuevo Charter Academy

Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles, California by Daly, Genik Architects, 1999


The following text and images are by Daly, Genik Architects of Santa Monica, California for the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy and elementary school in Los Angeles.

The elementary school is the first of several projects Daly, Genik is designing for the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. The new elementary school was created out of an abandoned mini-mall on Burlington Street. By reusing and renovating the former mini-mall and parking lots, this familiar type of low-slung building is transformed into an inviting 12-classroom elementary school around a courtyard.

The three main elements include a new freestanding extension which widens the upstairs passageways allowing ambient light into the classrooms, the sloping parking lot which is converted into a pleasant outdoor assembly/play area, and curved wooden lattices that shade most of the building.

Through a process of analysis and diagnosis of the existing mini mall, one of the most opportunistic and disposable building types, the structure is transformed into a school that sustains and serves a community.

This project received an AIA/LA award for design excellence.