Located in one of the few growing areas of San Jose, the Evergreen School District has been undertaking a major construction program to accommodate large residential developments within its boundary. This project is the third new elementary school in the past 15 years AEDIS has designed for the District. Like the previous 2, it is built on a site with significant challenges due to sloping topography and limited acreage.

Most of the school is housed in a single, split-level structure, adjacent to a single-story kindergarten wing. To maximize land use efficiency, the building itself is designed to act as a retaining wall. The main parking areas accesses the school on the upper level, while lower level opens at grade on the opposite side to playfields. The 13-foot elevation difference between the 2 parts of the site is accommodated entirely within the building, eliminating the need for a separate retaining wall or an unused slope bank.

Classrooms are housed on both floors along the two legs of a bent shape. The library occupies a mid-level near the bend, next to administrative offices and the multi-purpose room.

“I appreciate AEDIS’ follow-through on the State process. They don’t just take it to DSA; they help us with OPSC and work with us to make sure we did all the paperwork on our end. They do a great job on the coordination of the subs on projects – whether it’s the geotech or the contractor or inspector - they seem to wrap it all up really well.”

Jim Crawford
Deputy Superintendent Business Services
Evergreen Elementary School District