To support Irvine Unified School District’s mission to encourage and facilitate STEM instruction at their Middle Schools, tBP/Architecture provided design services to augment South Lake Middle School with new flexible science labs. South Lake received two Science Lab Building with a teacher prep area, toilets to support their special need students, athletic storage to support their athletic program and an outdoor science learning court. The new labs were made possible with Measure E funding.

The new building’s was designed to be similar to the existing building and match the original architecture. Located the between new science lab building and the existing building, the outdoor learning courtyard with bench seating allows instructors to take the science curriculum outside when desired. The building has been positioned to allow student flow from the adjacent student lunch area and the adjacent classroom building. The site positioning necessitated moving four basketball courts and square courts.