Edison High School

Stockton, California

Stockton Unified School District
Transformative Design Project
2010 - 2019 165,000 sf $62M

SUSD’s Edison High School is a representative example of reactionary unplanned school development and expansion. From the time of its opening in 1940 until 2010, construction of Edison High School was based on need and economy. As the school grew in a maze-like fashion, unusual indoor and outdoor spaces were created within, between, and behind buildings that proved to be difficult to secure and supervise.

With the passage of the Measure Q Bond in 2008, SUSD originally planned to modernize the campus and add much-needed buildings. In 2010, ARCHITECHNICA was appointed the Master Architect for Edison. After listening to the concerns of teachers, staff, and the community, ARCHITECHNICA convinced District Leadership that the bond funds would be better spent Transforming the Campus by replacing a number of the older buildings with new construction. In addition to this being fiscally sound the new Edison would excite the community, improve school safety and culture, and be good for the environment.

In a series of phases that span a nine-year period, nine single story, wood-framed buildings were replaced with four one- and two-story steel-framed buildings. The new buildings overlook a number of large, attractive outdoor plazas and quads that facilitate interaction, collaboration and easy supervision. Today Edison High School resembles a college campus with its uniform collection of buildings sharing a common palette and forms.