NSLA Charter School Main Campus
Project Facts
Status
Construction Complete
Completion Year
2021
Size
98,100 SF
Location
San Bernardino, California
Client
Lewis Center for Educational Research
On September 2, 2021, the Norton Science and Language Academy had its Grand Opening to begin a new chapter in the charter school’s history.
An innovative, win-win approach to land and program negotiations with the County resulted in an 18-acre flat, vacant lot and $40M project budget for a brand new 90,000 SF campus. Located in San Bernardino County, California, NSLA is a dual immersion program school which teaches science every day starting in kindergarten. The school supports underserved students from 20 school districts across Southern California where 90% are minority students and almost 80% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
At full build-out, the school will serve up to 1,500 students, Kindergarten to 12th grade, making it the first charter school of its kind in the region, with a secondary program that includes courses in Spanish, Mandarin, American Sign Language and coding. The new campus has seven single-story buildings and a two-story building clustered around three quads with a total of 60 classrooms, library, and administrative offices. There is also an indoor gym, outdoor basketball courts and playgrounds. An athletic field is planned for the west side of the property. The new campus has a college feel, featuring a multipurpose room and a media center where students can connect directly with NASA missions and science labs.
In concert with the County, the project also includes a 15,500 SF Head Start Program integrated into the campus. This is a single-story, 10 classroom Pre-K facility built in support of the county's educational needs for 180 students and includes administrative offices, warming kitchen, and parent instruction multipurpose room.
TSK provided programming confirmation, design, building department, bidding, and construction services for the entire campus. We presented on the school’s behalf at several Charter Board and County Board of Supervisors meetings to convey design and the school’s campus value to the community.
Design began in July 2019 with the school opening to students in the Fall of 2021.