About The Project

The Western Placer Unified School District needed to address the growing educational requirements of the rapidly expanding community in the region. The design of the new Twelve Bridges High School presented MTWgroup with a variety of site and landscape opportunities and challenges, which the team approached with expertise and innovation.

One notable component was the site's proximity to a protected watershed, requiring careful drainage solutions. MTWgroup coordinated extensively with the civil engineer to ensure the site would properly direct runoff to a retention basin, addressing environmental concerns and preparing for future developments, such as a planned sports field.

The vision for the school wasn’t just about blending with the natural surroundings but also about enriching the student experience. Hundreds of native boulders were carefully placed around the campus, serving a dual purpose. They provided informal seating and gathering spaces where students could connect, all while harmonizing with the natural environment.

Outdoor classrooms were another integral part of the design, aiming at enhancing the science curriculum and giving students hands-on learning experiences amidst nature. The playfields, designed for soccer, baseball, and football, add vibrancy and activity to the campus, fostering a lively community spirit.

The steep topography of the site, with elevation changes of over 15 feet, presented an opportunity for creative design. MTWgroup addressed this by incorporating specialized landscape plantings and designing aesthetically pleasing hillside features. In addition, excavation through murten—a natural concrete-like rock—to provide trenches for the 8” irrigation mainline required the team to provide a highly technical solution.