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Yerba Buena Performing Fine Arts Building, East Side UHSD
San Jose, CA
Creative exploration.
Flexible design turns a theater into a year-round multi-use facility.
Continuous social interaction and activity
HED’s design for Yerba Buena High School’s new Performing Arts Building reimagines possibilities for a high school theater space -encouraging creativity by providing a space where learning and interaction can occur simultaneously. HED’s design strategy was developed with both present and future uses in mind, developing a flexible student environment focused on building pride, ownership, and identity, while inspiring creative pursuits of all kinds. From fully retractable audience seating, to glazed operable partitions throughout, to multiple lighting grid locations, the building design maximizes and celebrates flexibility. The conventional performance space model, which might sit vacant throughout the day, and only used a few times per year, has been replaced by a series of interconnected gallery, lobby, and “stage” spaces. These allow both intimate and large-scale performances; as well as both scheduled and impromptu activity.

A series of curved ceiling baffles lead from the lobby into the performance hall, where their dramatic shapes frame the proscenium opening, enhancing the drama of both performance and daily use. Curving walls, textured plaster serve to create a sense of occasion, and provide both tactile and visual interest throughout the building. Ultimately, this unique space for creative pursuits will serve and inspire students now and into the future.
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Project Data
Yerba Buena Performing Fine Arts Classroom and Theater Building 2022-ES021-001
East Side Union High School District
San Jose, California
PROJECT SCOPE
New Construction
HED ROLE
Architecture (Full Service), Structural Engineering, Interior Design
RSF/GSF
21,000
CONSTRUCTION COST
$19.0 Million
Project Team
  • Rob Filary
    AIA
    Associate Principal
    Sector Leader
  • Leah Marthinsen
    RA, LEED AP
    Associate
    Project Management
  • Hanwook Kim
    Design
  • Yi-Hsiu (Elsa) Liu
    Interior Design
  • Tim Frei
    PE, SE
    Associate Principal
    Structural Engineering
  • Melanie Gilbert
    Design
  • Sungjoon (Joseph) Ahn
    Design
  • Michael Jensen
    PE
    Structural Engineering
  • Michael Myers
    AIA, LEED Green Assoc.
    Principal
    Technical Architecture Leader
Flexible design turns a theater into a year-round multi-use facility.
Yerba Buena Performing Fine Arts Building, East Side UHSD
San Jose, CA
PROJECT DATA
Creative exploration.