Jones Studio was selected in 2004 to design a new space for the special Desiderata Alternative Program. This 125 student school is dedicated to helping teens with emotional disorders attain a high school education as well as learn basic life skills. Moving the school from a 1920’s historic building, “Desi” would be relocated into an industrial building. The 30,000 SF program entailed a complete build-out after gutting the entire interior. A wide variety of program elements from administrative offices, classrooms, food preparation, therapy areas, and fitness rooms are arranged for optimal function within the existing shell. The architects chose to add exterior planted courtyards within the existing building’s walls in order to create outdoor classrooms and bring in natural light. Eight-foot square skylights take advantage of the industrial building’s high, wood roof structure to distribute natural light to multiple classroom clerestories. Colored glazing and a variety of paint colors de-institutionalize the building and create a rich, varied learning environment for the children.INTRODUCTIONThe Desiderata Alternative Program is dedicated to helping 14 to 21 year-old children with emotional disorders attain a high school education as well as learn basic life skills. It is comprised of children from throughout the Phoenix Union High School District.The Desiderata Program has been housed in a number of temporary locations. The current Desiderata Campus is located in an historic building from the 1920’s just north of downtown Phoenix. The existing brick building sits on a lush green lawn surrounded by large trees. A combination of large windows, high ceilings, and original wood floors give the building a strong connection to daylight and the outdoors. Although the Program is small by most high school standards, housing only 100 students, the existing brick structure fails to support the Program’s space requirements. The result is an enclave of portable classroom and service buildings that flank the historic structure’s north side.The acquisition of an existing building in Phoenix Business Park in late 2004, was the successful culmination of a search by Phoenix Union High School District to find a permanent home for the Desiderata Program.The expansive commercial structure is full of potential and will accommodate not only the Program’s functional needs, but also its aspirations of creating a rich, day lit learning environment. Housed within this new built environment will be a variety of room types including thirteen Classrooms, a Computer Lab, Group Therapy Rooms, an Activities Room, a Cafetorium, an Instructional Kitchen, a Fitness Room, and Administrative Offices. The New Desiderata Building will attempt to better meet the needs of the students and staff by creating a larger, more unified facility with strong connections to the outdoors and daylight. The Desiderata Building will be a home that students and staff can take pride in for years to come.HISTORYThe New Desiderata Alternative Program Building is located at 2920 N. 34th Drive in Phoenix. The previously agrarian site was developed into Phoenix Business Park in 1973, a conglomeration of commercial, retail, and industrial properties covering twelve acres. The Desiderata Building was constructed in 1980 as a speculative commercial property (reference Program Section 7.0 for the floor plan). The building was formerly home to Meta Graphix, a Commercial Print Shop, and the building’s only known tenant. Concrete block exterior walls encompass 31,825 square feet of office and warehouse space in a roughly U-shaped plan. The building’s current office spaces occupy its center, and are linked to the east parking lot via two storefront entrances. The north and south portions of the structure were used as several vast warehouse spaces. Like many industrial buildings, windows and natural daylight are found only at the office entrances. In renovating the building, the project will look to breath new life into the structure by building on the hopes of students and staff for a light, airy, and inspired learning environment. By responding to its new academic function and new occupants, the building will gain a new vitality and renewed sense of purpose, becoming an integral part of the community.USER GROUPSThe Desiderata Alternative Program is a highly structured school environment which couples a High School Curriculum with Therapy and Social Integration Programs. To accomplish its purpose, the School must accommodate the needs of a variety of User Groups including Teachers, Social Workers, Therapists, Pathologists, Administrators, Food Service Providers, Information Technology Workers, and Security Personnel. ARCHITECTUAL INTENTThe project should strive for architectural excellence in all aspects of design. The design team will create a learning environment that enhances the overall educational experience, and draws on comforting connections to the outdoors through the extensive integration of natural daylight and landscaping. The design team must address the students’ expressed desire to project an identity of pride in their school. The project site needs to be transformed from a commercial business park into an inviting and secure place of education. The design team must always be cognoscente of its design decisions with respect to the needs of the school, the project budget, and the schedule. By delivering the maximum amount of design and meeting the requirements of the school, it is only then that the project will be considered a success.