Garcia Elementary School

Downey Unified School District

Aerial view of a school campus featuring multiple red buildings around a large grassy field, playground areas, parking lots with cars, and surrounding residential neighborhood with trees.

K-12 EDUCATION | On the boards

Campus Modernization and Additions

Project Overview

Downey Unified School District has selected SGH Architects to lead the planning and design of modernizations and new additions at John A. Garcia Elementary School. For decades, this campus has seen little in the way of significant upgrades, and many of its buildings no longer meet the needs of a modern learning environment.

This project represents an important opportunity to reimagine the school as a state-of-the-art campus that reflects the District’s vision of transforming all schools into inspiring, future-ready educational facilities.

Location
Downey, California

Services Provided
Full Architectural Services

Principal in charge
Scott griffith, AIA

Size
TBD

An aerial view of a modern school campus with red buildings, outdoor seating with yellow umbrellas, playground equipment, bicycles, trees, and a parking lot with yellow school buses.

Meeting Growing Student Needs

In addition to modernizing aging structures, the project will replace outdated relocatable classrooms with permanent, purpose-built spaces designed to support student success. The redesign is also driven by the consolidation of a nearby school, which will bring the total student population at Garcia Elementary to nearly 800.

The new facilities will address both the immediate demand for additional capacity and the long-term goal of creating a campus that is safe, welcoming, and conducive to a wide range of teaching and learning styles.

A school campus with multiple red buildings, a playground with yellow safety surfaces, swings, a slide, and shaded seating areas with yellow umbrellas, surrounded by green lawns and trees, with parking lots and roads nearby.

Comprehensive Campus Improvements

The scope of work includes a broad set of enhancements that will touch nearly every aspect of the campus. New features will include state-of-the-art classrooms and flexible lab spaces designed for collaboration and hands-on learning, as well as a modern library/media center that supports digital literacy and research.

Additional upgrades will bring new administration areas, dedicated Kinder and TK classrooms with their own tailored play environments, and outdoor learning spaces that expand the educational experience beyond traditional walls. The design also includes new hard courts, play areas, improved bus and parent drop-off circulation, and expanded parking to ensure the campus functions smoothly for students, staff, and families alike.

Students arriving at John A. Garcia Junior Elementary School, standing outside the building labeled 'ADMINISTRATION', with some students* entering or leaving, and the school building featuring a modern design with circular windows and red accents.

A colorful school building with an outdoor area that includes yellow umbrellas, a playground, and bicycles, surrounded by trees and a parking lot.

A modern school building with a red facade and large windows, surrounded by a landscaped area with trees, grass, and a paved walkway. Children and adults are visible outside, some walking and others talking near the entrance.

Aerial view of a school campus with red and white buildings, playgrounds, sports courts, and parking lots, surrounded by trees and neighboring neighborhoods.

Exterior view of John A. Garcia Jr. Elementary School with people arriving and parked cars in front, clear sky and greenery.

Aerial view of a school campus with multiple red and white buildings, playgrounds, grassy areas, and parking lots.

Aerial view of a school complex with multiple red and white buildings, a playground, a grassy field, trees, parking lot, and a bus on the street.

Aerial view of a school complex with red school buildings, playgrounds, a large green field, parking lots, and surrounding trees.

A Vision for the Future of Learning

By combining modernization with new construction, the project at John A. Garcia Elementary School exemplifies Downey Unified’s commitment to providing its students with the best possible learning environments. More than a simple upgrade, this work will create a campus that fosters creativity, innovation, and community pride.

SGH Architects is proud to help bring this vision to life, ensuring the school not only meets today’s needs but also continues to inspire generations of learners well into the future.

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