Cerritos High School Modernization

The centerpiece of Cerritos High School is the media center, an expansive, flexible common area that provides students with space to gather, study, and socialize. The writing on the wall says it all: “Rest, chill, snack, collaborate, recharge, talk, think” are the big, bold messages floating in the word cloud beside the café in the corner, setting a versatile tone that echoes through all elements of the design. Once a library, the books that used to fill the room now sit on shelves that slide along tracks, which can collapse or expand depending on the day’s activities. The glass partitions that separate the classrooms on the periphery of the space can also open to expand the media center’s reach. Throughout, lightweight tables, chairs, and casework on wheels allow students to group up or break out into configurations that suit them. After all, as the bright, fluid finishes attest, this is a place designed to appeal and give back to the students.

Elsewhere on campus, the addition of two new buildings enhances the learning environment and increases experiential opportunities. A 4,800 SF building houses five new classrooms, and a 12,000 SF science building introduces eight laboratory classrooms, workrooms, and chemical storage, providing students with a state-of-the art facility to engage with their STEM education.

Other upgrades include improvements to security systems, campus technology, finishes, and electrical systems. In the administrative office, the school logo now adorns the floor, and data transfer rates have increased to 10 gigabytes. With connection points for technology on walls across campus, the district’s investment has made the school future-ready.