The Visual Arts and Design Academy is a school within a school that offers core academic instruction from 9th through 12th grade, focusing on creative industry areas of Arts, Media, and Entertainment. Fluid movement and collaboration between fine arts and digital arts classrooms are central to the VADA curriculum and are core components of the new building. The composition is informed by the campus edge topography. Two offset traditional plaster volumes define the classroom functions: digital arts studio and fine arts studio spaces, respectively.

These spaces offer a balance of windows for views and light, along with wall space for student presentation and visualization. Exposed acoustic metal decking, magnetic whiteboards, and areas of removable wall panels allow the space to be adaptable for use as classroom space during core instruction and gallery space during industry-sponsored events. The classrooms are linked by a central corridor/gallery/office/breakroom space that is formally defined as a rectangular volume of perforated weathering steel.

The outdoor spaces are a critical component of the overall program and will inform future redevelopment of the existing classrooms in this area of the campus. At the new building, outdoor spaces are defined by the offset classroom volumes. Roll-up doors and a glazed garage door provide access to the outdoor spaces. A fire access road doubles as a central plaza, allowing for expanded learning at both the new instructional spaces and existing classroom buildings.