Sterne School Cultivating individual strengths in dynamic, downtown campus

Client Sterne School
Location San Francisco, CA
Size 49,450 sq ft
Completion Phase 1: 2017
Phase 2: 2023
Program Classrooms, science labs, library, administration offices, gymnasium, music room, film room, drama room, recording studio
Delivery Design-Build
Photographer Celso Rojas

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sterne School—a co-ed independent day school for grades 4-12—relocated to a vertical campus in downtown San Francisco, formerly St. Mary’s School. WRNS Studio, the architect of the original building, collaborated with Sterne over several years to adapt the interior for experiential education and personalized learning, creating a modern academic environment tailored to smaller class sizes and dynamic learning.

Phased transformation for experiential learning

Phase 1 focused on reconfiguring upper-level spaces to support class sizes of 8–14 students. High-performance acoustic partitions and new transom glazing optimize comfort, while tackable surfaces and display walls create multidimensional environments for student engagement. Specialized classrooms for art and science emphasize collaboration, providing large, bright spaces where students can work on projects and digital displays.

Phase 2 introduced a subterranean Performing Arts and Athletic Center, including a gymnasium and music, film, and drama classrooms. State-of-the-art AV technology and high-performance acoustics foster creative expression. Features like a green screen film room and black box theater equip students to explore both analog and digital performance, while flexible drama spaces and dedicated practice rooms double as classrooms for instrumental and vocal learning.