Located in Carpinteria on a 120-acre campus, Cate school has been operating as a private boarding school since 1910. Cate offers a high school curriculum to students from the U.S. and abroad in a setting of expansive views, distinctive historic architecture, and extraordinary outdoor spaces. Cate school engaged in a master plan design process and CUP revision with the intent of furthering its educational mission through improvements to campus physical facilities, environment, and infrastructure. The master plan proposes the construction of new student-serving buildings, 6 new single-family faculty residences, and additions and renovations to a number of existing buildings including the existing gymnasium, library, chapel, dorms, classrooms, and the art building. Proposed new structures include student dormitories, classrooms, faculty residences, a student center/dining facility, a squash pavilion, and a multi-purpose building. The proposed improvements to the Cate School campus have been designed to meet the School’s current and future needs, and have been located in areas of campus that have either been previously developed or are in locations selected to minimize impacts on biology, archaeology, geology, and historic resources. New buildings are designed in harmony with the existing architectural palette and with respect for significant historic elements of the campus.
“Throughout the design of our new library and learning center, Blackbird was able to guide the client through the concept design and design development with an impressive use of 3D and virtual reality presentations. This greatly helped the committee of educators and donors understand what the final product would look and feel like. Now as we are finishing constructions documents I have been impressed how open Blackbird has been to construction challenges and the discussion of different means and methods to save time, money and improve constructability.”
Kevin Hartigan, General Contractor and Owner’s Representative, Cate School
Blackbird Team | Adam Sharkey, Alisa Oberjuerge, James Kyle, Ken Radtkey, Stefan Farmazon Landscape Architect | VAI Van Atta Associates Inc. Civil Engineer | MNS Engineers Planning Consultant | Suzanne Elledge Planning & Permitting Services, Inc.. Architectural Historian | Post Hazeltine Associates Biological Consulting | Rachel Tierney Consulting Acoustician | 45db Noise Control Consultants Owner Representative/Project Manager | Hartigan/Foley General Building Contractors, Inc.