Santa Barbara Unified School District
Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts & Design Academy (VADA)
Santa Barbara, CA
The Visual Arts & Design Academy is a school-within-a-school that combines rigorous academic coursework with project-based instruction in visual arts and design. KBZ Architects partnered with the Santa Barbara Unified School District and McGillivray Construction to complete the new facility in time for the 2024–2025 academic year.
This new VADA facility at SBHS replaces aging portables with a permanent home designed to support creativity and collaboration. Featuring open studio spaces, digital design labs, and indoor/outdoor exhibition areas, the building reflects KBZ’s thoughtful approach to educational architecture, prioritizing natural light and fluid circulation.
Funded through public and private support, the project embodies the community’s investment in arts-focused, career-based learning and provides a flexible, inspiring space for VADA’s evolving curriculum.
