Transforming a vacant office floor into a vibrant learning environment following the Palisades Fire.

Following the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire, which destroyed Village School's original campus, OFFICEUNTITLED transformed a vacant corporate office floor at BXP's Colorado Center in Santa Monica into a temporary home for the school's 300 students.

Completed in two phases, the project prioritized speed, flexibility, and community. An initial emergency conversion allowed students to return to school in less than three weeks, while a subsequent renovation introduced purpose-built classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, and collaborative learning spaces.

The design reimagines the traditional classroom through a playful, adaptable environment. Colorful graphics, intuitive circulation paths, and a series of informal gathering spaces known as "Imaginariums" encourage exploration, creativity, and social interaction. Two internal boulevards organize the campus, helping students navigate the expansive former office floor.

Working within the existing building, OFFICEUNTITLED minimized demolition and retained much of the original infrastructure. Modular partitions, flexible furnishings, and demountable glass systems reduce material use while allowing for future adaptation and reuse.

More than a temporary school, Village School demonstrates how adaptive reuse can transform underutilized commercial spaces into meaningful community infrastructure, offering a place for learning, connection, and recovery.