February 06, 2025

Artcenter College of Design Welcomes Odyssey Charter Schools Students Displaced by Eaton Fire

Odyssey Students Return to Class in Temporary Space at ArtCenter’s South Campus

ArtCenter College of Design has finalized an agreement with Odyssey Charter Schools to provide temporary classroom space for the school’s sixth to eighth grade students displaced by the recent Eaton Fire. Odyssey Charter School South in Altadena was one of the schools decimated by the fires, leaving students and teachers without a place to learn and teach.

More than 170 Odyssey sixth to eighth grade students, along with their faculty, will begin attending their classes in a dedicated space located on the second level of ArtCenter’s 1111 South Campus building, located at 1111 South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. The newly designated space, along with its own dedicated entrance, will ensure that Odyssey’s students and teachers will have the facilities and resources needed to continue their classes through the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.

ArtCenter and Odyssey leadership have worked together to determine and coordinate the necessary logistics for a smooth transition back to class.

“During this difficult time, ArtCenter is committed to aiding those impacted by the Eaton fire, especially students and educators,” said ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann. “We are pleased to be able to partner with Odyssey Charter Schools to ensure that their students and teachers will have a safe and supportive learning environment.”

Dr. Carlos Garcia Saldaña, Executive Director of Odyssey Charter Schools, expressed gratitude for the ArtCenter partnership, adding, “We are thankful to have found an exciting temporary learning environment at ArtCenter where our students and faculty—who have recently faced much loss and upheaval—can continue their classes.”

About ArtCenter

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of industrial design disciplines as well as visual and applied arts. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.

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