CAW Architects (CAW) has been at the forefront of reshaping California education through its award-winning educational portfolio for decades. Committed to enhancing the educational lives of children and young adults, the firm’s wide-ranging educational portfolio, which spans elementary, secondary, and university campus work, reflects its belief that all students deserve equal access and inclusion.

To date, the firm has designed the first two LEED Platinum K-12 public school buildings in the Bay Area, a Net-Zero Energy Master Plan for a comprehensive public high school in Oakland, and substantial campus revitalizations at Stanford University with an established goal of becoming carbon neutral and utilizing 100% renewable energy. It has been well documented that there is a clear link between increased student performance and the environmental quality of the built environment.

The new Ormondale Elementary campus promotes sustainability and dynamic learning. Spanning 8,891 SF, it features modern classrooms for art, music, science, and a “STEAM Lab” framed by a renovated courtyard that has been transformed into an interactive “sensory garden,” where the scents and colors of surrounding flowers and fruit trees activate the senses. Strategically sited buildings maximize natural light and views, creating a serene environment for K-3 students. Energy-efficient systems and solar design aim for LEED Silver certification, blending innovation with sustainability to foster a thriving learning space.

Design: CAW Architects
Photography: Caitlin Atkinson, Marco Zecchin