This new elementary school opened its doors to students in September 2007. Named after the legendary Olympic Gold Medalist, Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School (Flo-Jo) in San Diego, was designed to represent the spirit, culture, and diversity of the neighborhood in which it sits. The first school in San Diego Unified School District’s ‘Model School’ Program, Flo-Jo is a Joint-Use campus which serves as a focal point for the neighborhood. Flo-Jo was designed to bring a much needed school back to a neighborhood where the vast majority of the children were being bussed to other schools. The planning process began with the Architect, the City, School District Representatives and an independent community oversight committee (ICOC) which consisted of students, parents, teachers and community members. Numerous “Task Force Meetings” with the City Heights community helped to establish the site plan direction for this Joint-Use school. The project program served as the baseline for planning charettes that contemplated ease of use, a variety of indoor and outdoor learning/activity spaces, site security, and student development objectives. Several site plans were presented to and voted on by the community and stakeholders. The final site plan was truly developed by the community and end user groups, with logistical refinement provided by the architect and School District. Special attention was given to classroom size, providing more classrooms with fewer students per classroom. The campus was designed to resemble a smaller version of a high school or college campus, with numerous intimate outdoor grassy areas for small interactive learning groups, inviting outdoor activity areas, and several indoor/outdoor learning environments which connect the classroom to the landscape. The design itself was inspired by the ‘village-like’ feel of the surrounding neighborhood, with various rooflines, building sizes and vibrant colors used throughout. The multi-purpose building on campus allows for a variety of educational uses. One such space functions as a classroom, a cafeteria, a performing arts space, a gymnasium, as well as an arts and crafts center. When traditional school is not in session, the campus is utilized for community functions such as continuing education courses and town hall meetings. The facility also provides space for before and after school childcare, tutoring, daycare, preschool services, job counseling and other social services specific to the neighborhood. Flo-Jo is a highly sustainable learning environment that utilizes CHPS design guidelines. Each classroom is sited to maximize the use of daylight, and decrease energy costs from artificial lighting. With natural ventilation and cooling systems, and a focus on connecting the classroom to the outdoor learning environment, student health is a top priority. Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced through the use of recycled materials, sustainable building design, and the generous use of plants and landscaping through the campus. The Joint-Use campus is now the pride of this neighborhood. Its success can be best measured by the words of an Independent Community Oversight Committee (ICOC) leader “This site is part of the larger vision, which will create an urban village with open space, market-rate and affordable housing, recreation and community services…our new schools are helping to revitalize urban neighborhoods”

Project Information

Project Address: 

4271 Myrtle Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105

Project Owner/ Developer: 

San Diego City Unified School District

Owner Contact Name/ Email: 

James Watts, SDUSD Director of Architecture and Planning/ jwatts@sandi.net

Project Architect/ Designer: 

JCJ Architecture

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