The new Compton High School is one of the most ambitious, high-profile and future-ready public school projects in California in recent years. Designed by architecture firm DLR Group and outfitted by Los Angeles-based education furniture vendor D&D Learning Spaces, the project spanned 31 acres and totaled $225 million, including a $10 million philanthropic contribution from music icon and Compton native Dr. Dre for the state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. Unveiled to the public in a stirring ribbon cutting ceremony in May 2025, the new campus reimagines what a high school can be — open, modern, collaborative and deeply rooted in its community.

As part of the campus-wide effort to foster student wellness and engagement, the design prioritizes outdoor space as a key component of campus life. “We wanted to expand the food services area and really create a much larger dining and gathering experience that extended into the outdoors,” says Emily Fettig, Senior Project Manager at D&D Learning Spaces. “Being in Southern California, we have the advantage of using these spaces year-round."

Fettig and the team at D&D specified the Harvest tables and benches, Carousel connected seating and Solstice Cygnus umbrellas by Landscape Forms, drawn to their unique combination of high-design aesthetic and proven track record in demanding outdoor spaces. “We knew the outdoor furniture had to be rugged to withstand frequent use. Students can be tough on furniture, and that’s just the reality,” she says. “We originally planned to surface mount everything to maintain the space and reduce the need for rearranging, but Harvest’s robustness and heft proved that not to be necessary, adding the benefit of some adaptability to the dining area."

Beyond strength and resilience, the site furnishings needed to align with the school’s sophisticated, forward-thinking design. 

Harvest’s refined design and thoughtful detailing proved especially successful on the new Compton High School campus. “I loved the look and feel of the Harvest tables and benches,” says Fettig. “They had all the right details — standing-height options, under-bench hooks for backpacks, and the way they play so well with the Carousel and Solstice pairing. It all just came together beautifully.”

Crafted from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), unique materiality was an equally important benefit of the Harvest line. “It gets hot in Southern California, so heat retention, light reflection and UV stability are all very important considerations,” Fettig says. “Harvest’s HDPE surfaces address these issues while being comfortable yet surprisingly dense, resilient and easy to maintain."

The final, and possibly most important, consideration for D&D was the safety and sustainability of the site furnishings. “As a learning space company, we deal with classrooms and spaces for students, so we have to be really selective in our partners,” Fettig says. “The last thing we want are cheap, toxic products that might introduce contaminants.” Harvest’s HDPE surfaces are non-porous, food-safe and don’t collect dirt internally, while all metal on the specified pieces is finished with Pangard II® polyester powdercoat which is lead-free, doesn’t generate hazardous waste and doesn’t release airborne contaminants. Both Harvest and Carousel are crafted using recycled materials and are 100% recyclable at the end of a long lifespan. 

Today, Landscape Forms site furnishings play a central role in shaping how students experience the outdoor spaces at Compton High School. “They really were a seamless solution,” Fettig says. “They worked with the landscape, with the architecture, and with how students use the space."