Livermore High School Athletic & Aquatic Complex
Creating a Shared Identity Through Athletics
Located in the heart of Livermore, California, Livermore High School reflects both the history and growth of its community. With its 1929 main building fronting the site and a campus shaped by decades of incremental expansion, the school had developed in a fragmented way. The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District recognized the need to transform this patchwork into a cohesive campus, starting with a new athletic and aquatic complex. The project represented more than an investment in facilities. It was an opportunity to strengthen community connections, improve student wellness, and create a shared identity for the school.
The design team approached the project with three primary goals: improving access and circulation, enhancing quality of life through natural light and comfort, and providing versatile spaces that could serve multiple functions. To address traffic and crowd management, separate gateways were created for the gymnasium and pool, each signaling entry while maintaining clear boundaries between public and student use. The main stadium entry, once a barrier between campus and community, was reimagined as a welcoming public portal.
Inside, the two gymnasium volumes are infused with daylight through clerestory translucent panels along every perimeter wall. This design choice not only minimizes reliance on artificial lighting but also creates a bright, uplifting environment for athletics, performances, and gatherings. The primary court space incorporates a mezzanine viewing level, making it equally suited for dance recitals, theatrical productions, and athletic events. Acoustical engineering further supports these flexible uses, allowing the space to perform across a range of activities.
The facility was designed to accommodate the diverse needs of students and the larger Livermore community. A competition-sized wrestling room, weight training spaces, and PE classrooms provide a full range of athletic programming. Locker rooms positioned between the main gym and pool give swimmers and athletes direct access to showers and changing areas, while a separate pool house offers additional support facilities.
On event days, the northeast corner of the complex activates as a hub for the broader community. Restrooms and concession counters serve both indoor and outdoor activities, accessible from the interior for school events and from the exterior for football, soccer, and track crowds.
Externally, broad roof overhangs shade the clerestory windows, reducing heat gain while emphasizing the bold shed roof profile of the gymnasium. The use of horizontal metal siding on the upper levels accelerated construction while giving the building a durable, contemporary character.
The new athletic and aquatic complex serves as a catalyst for the school’s master plan, beginning the process of transforming a randomly evolved site into a cohesive and welcoming campus. Beyond athletics, the facility provides a venue for community events and city recreation programs, strengthening the relationship between the school and the broader Livermore community.
For students, the complex offers more than modernized facilities. It provides spaces that encourage wellness, performance, and pride of place. For the community, it offers a welcoming front door to the school, supporting a shared identity rooted in history but designed for the future.
