how the new ojai valley school design achieves environmental resiliency after the 2017 thomas fire

three new buildings for the ojai valley school in California

frederick fisher and partners (FF&P) has completed three new signature buildings at the ojai valley school (OVS) upper campus, in ojai, california. designed to replace two older structures that were destructed during the 2017 thomas fire, the project embraces the landscape while actively presenting the kinds of resiliency practices necessary to responsibly inhabit the area.

in 2017, the thomas fire devastated the ojai area and destroyed two buildings of the OVS campus, including numerous science and technology classrooms, as well as a student dormitory. the school stated its wish to rebuild immediately, and they had already been in contact with FF&P in 2015, to discuss a master plan focusing on future growth and more specific topics such as site program, massing, and architectural character. construction to replace the damaged facilities began in june 2018, while the project has now officially opened for the fall 2021 school year. ‘the new design is intended to be complementary to the existing campus character but not mimicking it. our new design is meant to be timeless and experience-driven,’ FF&P tells designboom in our interview (read more below!)

the three new signature buildings for the OVS campus in ojai, california

all images by logan hall for ojai valley school, unless stated otherwise

focusing on the indoor/outdoor interaction of the OVS campus

showing respect to the pre-existing campus, the new structures form a village of minimal pavilions, bridging the dynamic functions of learning, studying, and student living. the three permanent buildings include the aramont science and technology center, the grace hobson smith house dormitory, as well as the littlefield student commons complex. the aramont science and technology center takes shape as a flexible single-story unit that houses a series of classrooms, labs, and maker spaces, through an integrated indoor/outdoor profile. the two-story littlefield student commons comprises a dining hall, library, and student center, with an integrated second-story library opening towards the ojai valley. meanwhile, the new grace hobson smith house dormitory accommodates resident girls along with faculty apartments organized around its own courtyard.

fully recognizing the importance of outdoor education to OVS’ pedagogy, the architects have put emphasis on the indoor/outdoor interaction of the campus. all structures are organized around an identity that highlights the scenic surroundings as the primary active element, offering numerous moments where the buildings’ planes and interrelated profiles acknowledge the charm of the surrounding nature. the new upper campus design is anticipated to achieve LEED gold status through a combination of passive cooling systems, photoelectric power generation, and a lithium-ion battery energy storage system. furthermore, the project has been meticulously fireproofed by introducing flat roofs with no eaves, stucco finishes, and powerful sprinklers, all of which are in accordance with ventura county’s strict guidelines for defensible landscaping. road improvements have also been implemented to facilitate the access of emergency vehicles. to find out more about the project, designboom got in touch with frederick fisher and takashige ikawa of FF&P. read our interview in full below.

all structures are organized around an identity that highlights the scenic surroundings as the primary active element

interview with frederick fisher & partners 

designboom (DB): when did you begin working on the new hilltop ojai valley school upper campus, and what was the initial brief of the project?

frederick fisher & partners (FF&P): we began work on the upper campus in 2015, starting with a collaborative visioning exercise with the ojai valley school community that helped articulate the upper campus’ short and long-term needs while combining their philosophical ideals with site integration, functionality, and aesthetic inspiration. the 2017 thomas fire destroyed the core campus, which prompted an immediate need to replace the lost buildings on the new ‘blank slate’ site – 195-acres overlooking the ojai valley.

the new structures are designed to highlight the indoor/outdoor interaction of the OVS campus

DB: how does the new design respond to the campus’ masterplan and existing mid-century architecture?

FF&P: the new design is intended to be complementary to the existing campus character but not mimicking it. our new design is meant to be timeless and experience-driven.

DB: what are the main characteristics of the project’s overall design language?

FF&P: while the design language is simple, user experience throughout the project is diverse. we intended to create diverse experiences utilizing the simple form of boxes. these boxes all together create a sense of dynamism.

DB: the three signature buildings contain a variety of functions. how are these spaces laid out as part of the campus?

the three new buildings respect the existing campus architecture while forming a village of minimal pavilions that connect the dynamic functions of learning, studying, and student living. each building has an adjacent outdoor space for learning and gathering. together, the 3 buildings create a plaza, communally relating both to themselves and to nature. even from within the structures or their internal courtyards, views or natural airflows emphasize a direct and constant relationship with nature.

DB: how does the new design achieve environmental resiliency while embracing the natural context?

the design embraces the scenic landscape while reflecting the kinds of resiliency practices necessary to responsibly inhabit the area with the use of passive cooling design, photoelectric power generation, and a lithium-ion battery storage system that will dramatically reduce CO2 emissions and allow the campus to operate off-grid. the site has been extensively fireproofed through the incorporation of flat roofs without eaves, stucco finishes, enhanced sprinklers, and improved site access.

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project info:

name: ojai valley school (OVS)
architects: frederick fisher and partners (FF&P)
landscape designer: pamela burton & company
civil engineer: encompass consultant group 

structural engineer: parker-resnick

mechanical engineer: nibecker & associates

electrical engineer: nikolakopulos & associates

foodservice designer: webb

LEED consultants: zinner consultants

general contractor: mcgillivray construction
location: ojai, california, the US