Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School

North Las Vegas, Nevada

LGA was selected to provide architectural and engineering services for the new Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School campus to be located in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The 98,000 s.f. school is organized as two buildings: a Classroom/Administrative/Commons building, and a Gymnasium. The two buildings are connected by a courtyard and positioned to be reminiscent of a small college campus; a goal of Cristo Rey in its college preparatory curriculum. Located adjacent to the gymnasium is a soccer field and track. 

The corridors of the project are intentionally designed to encourage interaction and to create unique learning opportunities. At the center of the campus, the learning stair provides a place to hang out and also a place for formal education. The chapel is specifically located in a visible place, where students pass several times a day, as a reminder that the school is faith-based.

The Gymnasium building is accessed through the courtyard, and houses a 9,000 sf gymnasium, a state-of-the-art weight room, change rooms, and direct access to the soccer field and track. In addition, the building contains offices for the Athletic Director, Coach, and Trainer, as well as a Box Office, Concessions, and Restrooms. The gym also serves as the gathering place for all-school type functions, and includes a stage area and Green Room for student-run theatrical productions.

The exterior design of the school combines colorful fiber cement panel cladding, masonry, and curtainwall glass, and gives the buildings a sophisticated modern appearance and prominent street image. The site will include drought tolerant landscape, and trees that help shade sun in the courtyard areas, and the buildings openings. 

Client

Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory Inc.

Size

98,000 s.f.

Services Performed

Master Planning
Programming
Design
Construction Administration

Role

Prime Architect

The academic portion of the school consists of 25 classrooms, which includes Math, English, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Religious Education, Foreign Language, Social Studies, as well as Art, Music, and a Media Lab. The Classroom wing of the building is connected to the Administrative and Commons building to form one continuous indoor experience for students and staff alike.

The main stairs at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory Academy, education design by LGA Architecture.A view from the second floor at the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory Academy, education design by LGA Architecture.Children in the library at the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory Academy, education design by LGA Architecture.

Cristo Rey St. Viator Las Vegas College Preparatory is a Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose and service. Through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, integrated with a relevant work study experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and in life. Cristo Rey St. Viator Las Vegas College Preparatory is a part of the largest network of high schools in the country that exclusively serve low-income youth. As a part of the Cristo Rey Network, Cristo Rey schools adhere to a set of Mission Effectiveness Standards to protect the integrity of the model and articulate the shared mission.

At the heart of the Cristo Rey model is the work program, whereby students are sponsored by local businesses, who in turn work one day a week at those businesses.  This connection to work in conjunction with college preparatory schooling prepares the students for the rigors of college.

The front entrance to the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School, education design by LGA Architecture.The chapel at the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School, religious design by LGA Architecture.A hallway of the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School, education design by LGA Architecture.