San Francisco Waldorf School Programming

Barrett Studio architects were contracted, after an international search, to provide Master Planning and
Programming for the prospective unified campus of Waldorf School. Working closely with the community and educational leaders, five major programmatic priorities were defined in a process coined “seeking the soul,” which also helped the school to further explore its goals for expansion and unification. These soul pieces were Sense of Place, Color it Green, Inspiration of Form, The Spirit, and Light & Color.

Following the programmatic development, site concepts and feasibility studies were completed - recalling and integrating the priorities - as multiple potential sites were considered. One such scheme was developed for the revitalization of a former Armory building in a historic district, requiring close involvement with the National Historic Department to identify and comply with pertinent issues. The adaptive reuse of this formerly imposing structure would provide a light and expansive indoor / outdoor learning environment for the children of the school - a poetic transformation from the storage of weapons to the growth of our youth.

While the ultimate purchase of this building proved impossible, and a separate high school facility was recently completed, the vision for a unified campus still remains alive in the hearts and minds of many at San Francisco Waldorf.