Charles Helmers Elementary School

Saugus Union School District

Aerial view of a modern school campus with a sports court, playgrounds, trees, and surrounding houses on a sunny day.

K-12 EDUCATION

Classroom and Science Building

Project Overview

SGH Architects partnered with Saugus Union School District to design a new two-story Classroom and Science Building at Charles Helmers Elementary School, a project that reflects the District’s vision to meet modern educational needs while maximizing limited campus space. The addition strategically reclaimed over 60,000 square feet of former hardcourt play area, balancing the need for academic facilities with revitalized outdoor areas that continue to support student play, exploration, and physical development.

Location
Santa Clarita, California

Services Provided
Full Architectural Service

Principal in charge
Scott griffith, AIA

Size
9,000 sf

Empty classroom or workspace with large windows, wooden tables, black stools, and industrial-style ceiling with exposed ducts.

Space for Collaboration

At the heart of the new building is a state-of-the-art Flex Lab, designed to encourage hands-on learning, experimentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Paired with new outdoor learning spaces, the facility creates innovative environments that inspire curiosity and problem-solving, giving students opportunities to engage with science and technology in ways that extend beyond the traditional classroom.

Empty classroom with multiple blue and white desks and gray chairs, whiteboards, a large screen tv, and a kitchenette area, with windows showing outdoor greenery.

Growth and Flexibility

This addition also addressed the school’s pressing challenge of growing enrollment by providing modern, flexible classrooms that adapt to a variety of instructional styles.

Bright, functional, and student-centered, these spaces expand the school’s capacity while elevating the overall learning environment. The thoughtful integration of indoor and outdoor spaces ensures that students have both the resources and the room to learn, collaborate, and thrive.

View of a modern hospital building at dusk, showing illuminated hallway corridors on the upper and lower levels, with landscaped outdoor area featuring small trees, benches, and ground lighting.

Modern school building with beige and blue exterior, surrounded by a courtyard with small trees, green grass patches, and paved walkways under a clear blue sky.

Empty modern classroom or cafeteria with large windows, high ceilings with exposed ductwork, long tables with bar stools, and a beverage station on the left.

An outdoor school playground with painted hopscotch and four square courts on paved ground, trees, and a modern building with large glass doors and shade umbrellas.

A modern school building with a playground featuring multiple basketball courts, hopscotch, and hop balls, surrounded by trees and green landscaping, under a clear blue sky.

Modern school building with beige and white exterior, blue accents, glass doors, and stairs leading to classrooms, with a basketball court visible in the background.

Exterior of a modern school building at night with illuminated signs that read 'Huskies' and a lit staircase leading to the second floor

A Campus Transformed

The transformation of Charles Helmers Elementary School stands as a testament to the power of creative design and planning. By enhancing academic opportunities and revitalizing outdoor space, the project demonstrates how innovative architectural solutions can enrich a school community.

More than just a building, it represents a lasting investment in students’ growth, equipping them with the tools, environments, and inspiration they need to succeed.

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