The Monarch School
2012San Diego - CA
The Monarch School is a unique educational facility, one of a handful of its kind in the United States, created expressly to educate homeless children. It provides an array of educational and support services for 120 students from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
An existing, two-story tilt-up concrete warehouse building at 1625 Newton Avenue, the former home of the San Diego Housing Commission, will be remodeled for use as the new Monarch School facility. The structure is architecturally consistent with its immediate neighbors. Plans call for the most significant changes to occur to the Newton Avenue (east) side of the building, including these new elements: entry portico, arcade/shade structure, exterior color scheme and landscaping. Windows and doors will be added on the other three exposures, which will also receive new paint. Surrounding the facility on its north, south and west sides will be parking areas, hardscape play space, a kindergarten playground and new plantings. New vinyl-coated chain link fencing and gates are proposed along the property lines along the side yards of the parcel and along the rear yard of the parcel as well as for fencing and gates on-site. Ornamental iron fencing and gates are proposed along Newton Avenue and at the entries to the site from Newton Avenue.