Marshall Early Education Center

Garvey School District

Aerial view of a school campus with buildings, a playground, a green field, and surrounding neighborhood houses in daytime.

K-12 EDUCATION

Marshall Early Education Center

Project Overview

Closed in 2012, the historic John Marshall Elementary School in San Gabriel, California stood dormant for more than a decade before its transformation into the community’s largest Early Head Start Education Center. Built in 1934 and once on the brink of demolition, the 90-year-old campus was reborn through a partnership between Garvey School District, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and the Office of Head Start. This collaboration preserved a piece of local history while creating a vital new resource designed to serve the community’s youngest learners at a critical stage of development.

Location
San Gabriel, California

Services Provided
Full Architectural Services

Principal in charge
Michael J. Stephens, AIA, NCARB

Size
18,900 sf

An empty preschool classroom with white walls, large windows, and gray wood flooring. There are small tables and chairs, shelves filled with toys, a colorful rug, and storage cabinets along the back wall.

A Campus Rebirth

The design and planning effort was guided by Garvey School District’s commitment to early childhood education, recognizing the profound impact of the first five years of life on lifelong learning.

Working within strict budget constraints, SGH Architects carefully balanced preservation with modernization, honoring the school’s historic architecture while upgrading the facility to meet current educational, accessibility, and safety standards.

Abundant natural light, durable finishes, child-scaled amenities, and secure access points created a welcoming and functional environment where exploration and play support both student and teacher success.

An empty medical or office room with white walls and a gray wooden floor. There are two black waiting chairs against the wall, with three framed photographs of children hanging above them. A glass door and a window let in natural light, and a long bl

Exterior of Marshall Early Education Center with stairs and ramps, two trees, and a clear blue sky.

Bright and spacious early childhood classroom with large windows, colorful rugs, wooden tables and chairs, and various toys and educational materials.

Aerial view of Marshall Early Education Center, a school building with a playground, a large grass field, and surrounding residential neighborhood.

Empty modern office with cubicles, office chairs, and large windows with blinds

Empty daycare classroom with natural light, white walls, and wood flooring; contains small tables, chairs, toys, and storage units; large windows overlooking an outdoor play area.

Front view of Marshall Early Education Center building with stairs and ramp, surrounded by desert landscaping and trees, under a clear blue sky.

A Beacon For Hope

Today, the Marshall Early Education Center has become a hub of learning, community, and hope. Surrounded by the new Marshall Community Park and the San Gabriel Police Substation, the facility is part of a broader revitalization that strengthens the neighborhood.

In addition to sustainable building systems and water-wise landscaping, the Center provides parent education programs and family support services, empowering generations to come.

What was once a shuttered school is now a vibrant resource that not only prepares children for their educational journey but uplifts the entire community.

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