Castilleja School A campus reimagined: cultivating leadership and equity

Client Castilleja School
Location Palo Alto, CA
Size 133,000 sq ft
Completion Est. 2025
Program Middle school and upper school learning spaces, collaborative spaces, counseling offices, study rooms, snack bar, dining hall, library, meeting rooms, makers space, science labs, choral and music classrooms, fine arts, and outdoor pool
Sustainability Targeting LEED Platinum, LBC Energy, Net Zero
Delivery Design-Bid-Build

Castilleja School, an all-girls middle and high school in Palo Alto, educates motivated young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders. The campus plan reimagines the school to increase enrollment, promote gender equity in education, and cultivate future female leaders. The project includes a new pool, renovations, and a state-of-the-art academic and student life building with classrooms, a library, art studios, maker spaces, a dining hall, and counseling offices—advancing Castilleja’s hands-on, collaborative curriculum and fostering a supportive environment where girls mentor and inspire one another.

Empowering future leaders through connection and choice

WRNS Studio reimagined Castilleja School’s campus around a series of interconnected hubs, fostering community and offering students choices in how they engage with their environment. At its heart is the Circle, a landscaped greenspace that symbolizes balance, equity, and tradition. Pathways, bridges, and gardens energize the Circle, linking diverse programs while offering spaces to gather or retreat. Each grade has its own intimate gathering area, while flexible “all-hands” spaces and social nooks encourage collaboration and connection.

Wellness and sustainability integrated

The design reflects holistic goals for wellness, flexibility, equity, and sustainability. Ample daylight activates learning spaces, including the 50,000-square-foot garden level, made welcoming with light wells, atriums, and warm Dowel Laminated Timber. Net Zero Energy is achieved through photovoltaics, all-electric systems, and responsive lighting controls. Rainwater is captured for irrigation, while native plants and preserved trees enhance the landscape’s ecological value. These sustainable features serve as teaching tools, seamlessly integrating environmental stewardship into the curriculum.

On 6.5 acres in Palo Alto, the project was designed with sensitivity to its residential neighbors. Warm wood materials, low building heights, sound walls, and underground parking mitigate aesthetic, noise, and traffic concerns, ensuring a harmonious relationship between school and community.