CASE STUDIES: JOINT USE

Edison School / Pacific Park Project

The City of Glendale, California, and the Glendale Unified School District are collaborating on a joint development project known as the Edison School/Pacific Park Project. The project will provide a new elementary school, community center, library, and park expansion for residents in Glendale. Siegel Diamond Architecture, in association with M.I.G. Landscape Architects, was retained to develop the project.

This project is a groundbreaking example of shared use concepts. Through a detailed programming effort involving community members, City and School District staff, and elected officials, key components of the facility were identified which could be shared between the elementary school and the City. The shared-use facilities include:

Multi-purpose Cafeteria and Gymnasium
Art, Science, and Computer Classrooms
Library combining functions of both a city branch and school facility
Hardscaped & grass playing field
Parking facilities

In a detailed agreement worked out between the City and School District, the elementary school has exclusive use of the joint-use facilities during all school hours, while the community has use of the same facilities after school and on weekends. All joint-use facilities are accessible from either the school grounds, or the community center/library/park, and have two entrances--one for the school and one for the community.

The facilities will be used seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. when the free school breakfast program starts until 10:00 p.m. when the lights go out on the softball and soccer fields in the park.

The project will cost $17.9 million, and is estimated to be completed by 2002. Fiscal benefits of joint-use include reduced initial construction, land, and operational costs. It is estimated that the joint-use strategy saves each agency approximately $5 million compared to costs incurred if they had built a stand-alone facility on separate sites.

The shared-use facility concept also significantly reduces the need for land acquisition, demolition of affordable housing, and relocation of existing tenants, through the efficient use of dense urban land.

This project will benefit children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. Consequently, City and School Officials believe that the Edison School/Pacific Park project will serve as a true multifunctional center for the entire community.