Terra Linda High School Master Plan and Student Commons
Creating a New Heart for Learning
The community of Terra Linda in San Rafael, California, chose HED to revitalize its 1961 high school campus, embarking on a transformation made possible through a $74 million bond measure.
At the outset, HED led a collaborative master planning process that eliminated the need for costly temporary facilities. This strategic move allowed more of the budget to be directed toward reinvigorating campus spaces, improving social areas, and constructing an entirely new academic core anchored by a student commons.
The student commons redefines the campus experience. Designed as a central hub for both learning and social connection, the facility integrates the library, technology, media, music, drama, and dining services into one cohesive space. By bringing these programs together, the commons creates a logical and accessible diagram for campus life that was missing from the original plan.
Natural light was a key design priority. Skylights, glazed curtain walls, and north-facing orientations allow daylight to permeate the library and cafeteria, creating bright and uplifting spaces that enhance learning and socialization.
Natural light was a key design priority. Skylights, glazed curtain walls, and north-facing orientations allow daylight to permeate the library and cafeteria, creating bright and uplifting spaces that enhance learning and socialization. The kitchen was strategically positioned along the school’s original service road for efficiency, while the cafeteria opens directly to the redesigned amphitheater and central quad, extending activity outdoors and connecting students to revitalized social spaces.
The commons is the new heart of the Terra Linda campus. Its central position, adjacency to the courtyard, and flexible programmatic layout foster interaction among students and staff in ways the original campus could not support. By creating an activated indoor-outdoor environment, the design promotes collaboration, engagement, and community pride.
Terra Linda’s new student commons stands as a symbol of thoughtful planning and community commitment. It provides students with an environment that is both functional and inspiring, a beating heart that strengthens the academic and social fabric of Terra Linda High School for generations to come.
