BCA ARCHITECTS SELECTED TO MODERNIZE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE NURSING AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGY BUILDING

Posted: July 5, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Awards, BCA Bios, BCA Did You Know?, BCA Q&A's, Sustainable Design | Tags: | Leave a comment

Long Beach, Calif. – After successfully completing the Programming and Schematic design phases of the project in collaboration with the Long Beach City College District team, user group and bond management team, BCA Architects continues their partnership with the LBCCD to modernize their Nursing and Health Technology building.

Long Beach City College (LBCC) is the home of the nationally recognized nursing program offered by the Health and Technology Department. The Health and Technology building is a three story building constructed circa 1969. The total enclosed area of the building being modernized is 23,250 square feet. Currently the Nursing Department is preparing students to work in 21st century hospitals in a facility built in 1969 – to maximize the use of the existing spaces and to provide a 21st Century Learning Environment, designed for the specific needs of the Nursing and Health Technology program, the College District and BCA Architects have embarked on converting all existing enclosed areas to support new functional needs of the Department.

Paul Bunton, AIA, President of BCA Architects said “BCA is enjoying our partnership with the Long Beach City College and their Bond Management Team to assist in the modernization and expansion of this exciting and progressive program. The students of LBCC will be learning in one of the most state of the art nursing and health technology facilities in the State.”

Since 1927, LBCC has been serving the needs of the city of Long Beach and its neighboring districts of Avalon, Lakewood and Signal Hill. Long Beach Community College District is making significant improvements to both of their campuses and implementing construction program under the Measure E Bond Program, Proposition 1A, Proposition 47, Proposition 55, and State funded scheduled maintenance projects.

The Renovation of Building C – Nursing and Health Technology building project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2014.

Did You Know? BCA’s Five Ways to Design Student Sucess

Posted: November 29, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: BCA Did You Know? | Leave a comment
Christopher High School in Gilroy California has been recognized for incorporating all five important design aspects to stimulate student success

For years, professional organizations and governmental agencies have been calling attention to the deteriorating condition of the nation’s schools.  It’s widely recognized that students in classrooms with adverse conditions are absent more often, lose hours in the classroom, and are less productive.

Here are five educational design aspects that BCA has mastered, effectively working to shift the paradigm and help students succeed in the classroom.

1.  Safety

Whether speaking of students’ personal safety or the general safety of their built physical learning environment, schools should be in good physical condition and “personal safety” should be guaranteed in order for effective learning to occur.

2.  Intrinsic Motivation

Without a doubt, the quality of school’s design has an impact on student motivation. Most students learn more and achieve at higher levels if the school’s design can evoke positive emotions. Both teachers and students are more effective in a creatively-designed and well thought out environment – one that students and teachers can be proud to see every morning.

3.  Comfort

The condition of a school is very important to help students find a degree of mental and physical comfort in their surroundings. In general terms, students don’t want to come to school and look at an unmaintained building. Well-kept and clean environments have shown to have a calming and positive affect on students and staff moods.

4.  Peer Behavior

Peer behavior and conduct can be a catalyst in determining success, as well a possible distraction from accomplishing educational tasks and goals. When provided with a well-designed environment, students feel an elevated level of professionalism and are thus are more respectful towards one another.

5.  Learning Space 

Students can feel irritated if placed in a small, or overcrowded environment. Adequate amounts of natural day lighting and properly ventilated and air-conditioned spaces contribute to effective student learning. Also, interactive whiteboards, WiFi and other helpful learning tools offer a comprehensive and creative approach to education.

BCA Architects designed the newly opened Christopher High School in Gilroy, California. When compared to the neighboring and elder Gilroy High School, it is clearly seen how BCA’s innovative designs provide for a positive learning environment.

2011

Gilroy High School API Scores 740 2011

Christopher High School API Scores 796 (7.6% increase)

2010

Gilroy High School API Scores 729 2010

Christopher High School API Scores 783 (7.4% increase)

The Students of CHS are the same students that were at Gilroy HS the previous year. The Teachers of CHS are the same teachers that were at Gilroy HS the previous year.