Branson School Fine Arts Center: Ross Building

Branson School Fine Arts Center Design Ross, Northern Californian Architecture Photos, CA Project Architect

Branson School Fine Arts Center, California

Ross Building Project design by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop, United States, north of San Francisco

Aug 10, 2010

Location: Ross, north of San Francisco, California, USA

Design: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects

The Branson School is an independent high school occupying seventeen acres of hilly terrain north of San Francisco. The largely-residential town strictly limits building area on the campus to conform to the density of surrounding residences.

Branson School Fine Arts Center The Branson School Fine Arts Center California The Branson School Fine Arts Center Building Branson School Fine Arts Center

The Branson School Fine Arts Center

The challenge was to provide high-volume spaces for music, sculpture and digital media previously unavailable in the existing fine arts classroom building while maximizing the usable outdoor space adjoining the new buildings. The new 3,300sf Fine Arts Center designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop comprises new buildings arranged around mature trees and the renovated existing fine arts building, a converted residence.

The complex activates an underutilized campus area and defines a courtyard for outdoor projects and performances. To take advantage of the temperate climate, each classroom opens onto an area covered by a translucent canopy, while the canopies define exterior circulation spaces. The Branson School is currently seeking LEED Platinum certification for multiple campus buildings including the Fine Arts Center. This building highlights sustainable strategies and that are integrated into school curriculum to help educate the students about the potential of sustainable design.

The Fine Arts Center was designed to minimize energy consumption through natural ventilation, passive cooling, preservation of existing shade trees and landscape elements, radiant heating, natural daylighting, a high-SRI white roof on one of the two buildings, reflective exterior paving and thermally-broken windows. Additionally, over 90% of construction waste was recycled and construction materials include recycled or rapidly-renewable products, cement with 30% fly ash content and FSC Certified wood.

Indoor air quality is improved through the use of low-emitting and non-toxic materials as well as natural ventilation strategies, which were simulated and tested through Computer Fluid Design analysis. Potable water use is reduced through low flow plumbing fixtures, waterless urinals, native drought-tolerant landscape, and simulated lawn surfaces. Storm water run-off is mitigated through rain-gardens, underground detention, and pervious landscape surfaces.

Branson School Fine Arts Center, Ross, California – Building Information

Location: Ross, California, USA
Design: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects

Photographs: David Wakely Photography

Branson School Fine Arts Center images / information from Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects

Location: Ross, California, USA

Branson School Fine Arts Center was founded in 1920.

Another building design on the campus by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects:

Branson School Student Commons
Branson School Student Commons Ross
photo : David Wakely
Branson School Student Commons

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Northern Colorado House
Northern Colorado House
Northern Colorado property photo : David Wakely
Northern Colorado House

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SFMOMA building image © Snøhetta

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Design: Frank Gehry – Gehry Partners, LLP
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