Esperanza Elementary School
Los Angeles, California
Esperanza Elementary Green Schoolyard transforms a campus once dominated by asphalt into a resilient, ecologically active landscape for students and the surrounding community.
Designed by SALT and built in partnership with the LA Neighborhood Land Trust, the Esperanza school community, and LAUSD, the project is a prime example of a gray-to-green schoolyard transformation.
From Asphalt to Native Landscape
Previously covered by 30,000 square feet of asphalt, where surface temperatures reached over 120°F on hot days, the Esperanza Elementary site is now a resilient, ecologically active landscape for students and the surrounding community. Through SALT’s design interventions, the campus increased its green space from 9% to 37%, significantly surpassing the District’s baseline target.
Cooling and Restoring the Campus
SALT’s design replaces the majority of the campus hardscape with more than 20,000 square feet of California native planting and 35 California native shade trees, restoring a measure of ecological function to the site. The new tree canopy cools the campus through shade and evapotranspiration, while a high-efficiency irrigation system keeps the landscape thriving.
Space to Run, Play, and Learn
Students gain expanded and improved areas for play and discovery. A new running track and a 12,800-square-foot flexible lawn support multi-use play and double as stormwater infiltration swales. Two outdoor classrooms with nature-based play structures bring learning into the landscape, and 11,700 square feet of solar reflective asphalt coating further reduces heat on the remaining paved areas.
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