Portola Hills Elementary School

Project Overview

Innovative design creates light-filled flex space for creative learning.

Adding dedicated space for innovation studies was a key part of Saddleback Valley USD’s modernization plan, but it came with a challenge—fitting a new building into a quad enclosed by established buildings. AMS found an innovative solution, craning custom-designed GEN7 modules over existing structures to give Portola Hills the creative learning/making space it needed. To maximize both functionality and flexibility in a 70×36 footprint, the open layout is sectioned into an innovation lab and library, each with its own entrance. Interior NanaWalls create breakout areas for private meetings and small group projects. High ceilings, Solatubes and storefront windows make a compact space feel larger, while filling the entire building with natural light and outdoor views.

• Frosted glass NanaWalls partition space and provide a two-sided writing surface
• Natural ventilation and safe, low-VOC materials maintain superior indoor air 
• Sustainable, energy-saving technologies create a healthy learning environment