Project
Summary

Aviation High School consisted of 22 buildings set on a 40-acre site capable of accommodating up to 2500 students. All structures were constructed from reinforced masonry on a slab foundation. At the center of the site was a circular administration building, noteworthy and controversial because it was California’s first round school structure. Extensive student traffic flow studies were made and the layout of buildings surrounding the admin building was determined with size and frequency of use in mind. The school library was curved to follow the contour of the administration building and housed a book collection capacity of 30,000. The multipurpose room seated 1000 students at indoor assemblies and the platform of the auditorium could also be utilized for outdoor activities. At its enrollment peak in 1974 it served 2300 students. Due to budgetary constraints in the early 1980s, one of three local high schools had to be closed, and Aviation High School was selected. A portion of the property was sold off and its structures demolished. The theater, gymnasium, and track and field were maintained and now the 14 acre site is known as Aviation Park and is home to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.