Marsh Junior High School

Chico Unified School District
Chico, California

With a growing enrollment and the addition of the 6th grade to Marsh Junior High School, replacing the modular multipurpose was an opportunity to create a true student center for this campus.

By excluding athletics from the program, the facility focused on gathering, dining and performance. This allowed the space and the finishes to better address and respond to these uses, providing a smaller volume with warmer and friendlier materials.

A full-service kitchen supports the dining function and is supplemented with an exterior snack bar and covered patio, providing students with dining options. A music room located adjacent to the stage supports both musical and theatrical performances. And a unique student technology bar, a built-in area with power and data for students, supports casual gathering. While the tech bar area is limited, the dedication of the space affirms the school’s commitment to a student-focused campus by providing nontraditional spaces.

The new facility has not only provided much needed functional space, but also helped to create a new center for the campus that is welcomed and embraced by the students.