The new Littlefield Student Commons looms large and square at the southwestern edge of the Upper Campus of Ojai Valley School, overlooking the cascading mountains on the east end of the valley.
Perched in a wind tunnel that shoots through the second floor of the still unfinished building, Ojai Valley School Head of School Craig Floyd stands tall, his shoulders pushed back by the gusting air that sweeps up the hillside and funnels into the rectangular chute.
The Littlefield Student Commons is a mere skeleton now of what it will ultimately become, the centerpiece of the most ambitious building project in school history.
But even in its current state, with its exposed wood and freshly mounted glass, it speaks of new opportunities and dreams of expansion.
“It has been three long years of waiting for the rebuild,” said Mr. Floyd, leading a tour of the Commons and the other new buildings steadily taking shape at the highest point on the hill.
“I am extremely excited to see the buildings approach completion,” he added. “We’re dedicated to making this part of the campus a top-notch facility.”
The $16-million project is largely aimed at replacing buildings lost in the Thomas Fire.
Construction has been underway for more than a year on a new and expanded Grace Hobson Smith House dormitory and on the Aramont Science and Technology Center, which among its many amenities will feature new classrooms, science and media labs, and a makerspace for engineering and robotics. Both the old girls dorm and science building burned to the ground in the fire.
Also under development is the brand new Commons, a two-story dining hall, library, and student center that will, for the first time, provide a place for the entire student body to gather for meals and special events.
The new facilities are expected to be completed by early summer, with the goal of having them open and ready for occupancy by the start of the 2021-22 school year.
“From an admissions standpoint, the new buildings coming online will be an extraordinary game changer,” said Tracy Wilson, the school’s director of admissions and advancement. “But beyond that, this project is going to enhance the student experience at Ojai Valley School.”
After the Thomas Fire tore through the Upper Campus in December of 2017, destroying half the campus including several signature buildings, OVS wasted no time launching the rebuilding process.
According to Mr. Floyd, there was a meeting with OVS parent and renowned Los Angeles architect Fred Fisher 48 hours after the fire was put out, both to design a plan for The Village — a temporary girls dorm and classroom space — and to start laying the groundwork for the rebuilding effort.
At the same time, workers from McGillivray Construction — founded and operated by former OVS parent Steve McGillivray — were on hand completing boys’ dorm renovation, and they were pulled in to help establish The Village. Months later, McGillivray Construction would be named lead contractor on the rebuild project.
In November of 2019, after a mountain of debris was cleared and architectural plans were made, the first pieces of heavy equipment arrived and the rebuild began in earnest. From a distance, those at the Upper Campus have been able to watch the project slowly but surely take shape, but few have been allowed to venture beyond the chain link fence that secures the construction site.
Luckily, Mr. Floyd allows an occasional sneak peek.
Walking up to the construction site, the first large building is dedicated to the sciences. The Aramont Science and Technology Center includes a seminar room, three science classrooms, a computer lab and the makerspace. The Aramont Foundation, with the encouragement of alumna Lucila Arango, was the first to step up with a major $1 million contribution after the fire and inspired others to give. This has included numerous alumni, parents, grandparents and friends of the school.
Mr. Floyd steps eagerly into one the classrooms next to the Carol Burnett Digital and Media Arts Lab, donated by the legendary comedian (an OVS grandparent) and her husband Brian Miller. Like all the rooms in this building, one of the most striking features is the high, raised ceilings and tall rectangular windows that flood the learning space with natural light.
Incorporated in the new buildings are outdoor classrooms, equipped with electrical equipment in which classes can comfortably take place.
“There will be a monitor and seating,” Mr. Floyd said. “Students can tap into the milk and crackers meeting, or teachers can beam into the monitor to project projects.”
For the first time, the new Black Family Foundation Makerspace, part of the school’s hands-on learning program, will not only have its own dedicated classroom for robotics, but also the added features of a large roll up door and an outdoor patio. The door will allow resources to be driven straight into the lab, while the patio will give students the opportunity to work outside.
Across from the sizable new faculty meeting room is the McCarthey Family Multipurpose Room with its main focus being an epicenter of performing arts that can be used for play rehearsal, instrument storage, and garage band practices. The room has large glass windows that open outwards, providing a spacious and open feeling. As designed, it will be a grand space where students will be able to come together and enjoy movies, music and each other.
From the science building to the new girls dorm is a short zig zag path that leads right to the front entrance of the dorm. The one-story building is laid out like a square picture frame: three walls of rooms border a private and homey courtyard.
“One of my favorite features is the courtyard of the girls dorm,” said Fred Fisher, whose architectural firm designed all of the buildings under construction. “It’s sense of enclosure contrasts with the wide open space of the hilltop.”
The fourth wall, closest to the science building, includes two apartments that will serve as faculty housing. The first wall that borders the girls dorm will be a row of two person rooms and a single room at the end. Along the back row of the building are larger, three-student rooms.
The girls’ lounge is in the furthest corner. It features expansive glass windows running the length of the wall to expose the gorgeous valley views.
“Any room on this backside is going to have the best views in Ojai,” Mr. Floyd exclaimed.
The last of the three buildings is the two-story Littlefield Student Commons, named for alumnus Ed Littlefield (U67), whose foundation contributed $2 million to the project.
The Commons will serve multiple roles, from housing the new cafeteria to offering students places to lounge and relax before classes. Up until now, there has been no space on campus in which all students, faculty and staff could gather, but that will no longer be the case. When entering through the Common’s large glass doors there is an elevator directly to the left, part of an effort to make the building accessible to all.
A staircase that leads to the second floor spills directly into a lounge and seating area, which overlooks the large screens and cafeteria. Adjacent to the seating area is the wind-swept reading porch, and past that lies the new J.B.Close Library, named for former English teacher J.B. Close, which is much more spacious than the current library in Wallace Burr Hall. Attached to the library are a set of rooms, which will house the college counseling office and learning center.
Back on the first floor, Mr. Floyd recently had the opportunity to provide a tour to one of the most important constituent groups that will make use of the Commons workspace: the kitchen staff.
After years of working in the cramped confines of the current kitchen, the new kitchen space was a revelation to the OVS cooks.
Though the new Commons will bring n abundance of new features, there is one Mr. Floyd is most thrilled about.
“I will tell you something exciting,” he said, lowering his voice to share a secret. “We are getting a soft serve ice cream machine.”
And that’s not all.
The new kitchen features pantry spaces and walk-in refrigeration spaces and dishwashing spaces that are many times bigger than what is presently available. All the appliances will be electric, taking advantage of the school’s ample solar power.
“The whole [current] kitchen can fit in the walk-in,” said longtime cook Moises Ferrell, poking his head into all the areas that will soon be his domain.
Bordering the kitchen is a large serving area where the food line will form. Students will then be funneled into Boswell Hall, a spacious dining area that fits up to 190 people.
The second floor does not extend over the seating area, so that this space has an extremely tall ceiling lined with glass on both sides. Students will also have the opportunity to sit outside in an oak-shaded dining terrace right outside of the building.
The far wall in the cafeteria has no windows and is intended for a nine-panel video wall. The screens will beam sports games, news broadcasts, and other programs. Students will be able to tap into these screens through their phone, and can watch and listen through headphones.
This space will also be available for public speakers. With a maximum occupancy of 300, the space is perfect for larger activities such as screenings of student films and presentations by guest lecturers.
Less visible is the way in which all three buildings will protect the environment and provide reliable, renewable energy for the entire campus.
This includes a battery storage system that will store electricity generated by the existing solar array, dramatically eliminating CO2 emissions and ensuring the campus can function in the event of power outages. Additional green-building features are expected to meet the standards for LEED Gold certification, demonstrating they are sustainable and safe for students and staff.
“From day one after the fire, there was no doubt the school would be committed to rebuilding,” Mr. Floyd said as he ended his tour. “We know this building project will truly transform the student experience for years to come.”