The architecture firm ��—��with��offices��in Santa Rosa, Calif.,��and Oakland,��Calif. —��recently advanced��it’s��2030 vision by��establishing��an office in Castle Rock, Colo.��The��nearly 80-person��firm now has three employees in Colorado��supporting��projects across the company and��as they��look to build a strategic pipeline of opportunities in��the region.��Led by Studio Director Joel��Williams,��AIA,��LEED AP, ALEP,��the team also includes��Project��Designers Joseph Puyot and Spencer Robinson.��

Williams joined��QKA in 2020��and��has more than 18 years of experience in education design, from��small classroom renovations to large-scale campus master planning projects. With a leadership��style rooted in collaboration and��communication,��he will build on his established client and��partner relationships to grow QKA’s presence in the Rocky Mountains.����

“This��expansion is a natural extension of our community-minded work in��California and��offers great��opportunities to build our talent pipeline in a��highly desirable��region to live and work,” Williams said.��

Williams, who will also share his insights at the �鶹������ (SCN)��Design & Construction Symposium��in August, spoke recently with SCN to explain why Colorado is a compelling market for K-12 design, and how architecture can help schools do more with limited resources.��

SCN:��Colorado has seen significant growth and voter support for school bonds. How do you see those market conditions shaping the next generation of school design in the state?��

Williams:��Colorado voters approved��nearly��$6 billion��in new school bond funding in the 2024 election cycle, with��additional��measures��anticipated��on the 2026 ballot. That sustained community investment reflects the same conviction��we’ve��seen across the Bay Area: that well-designed schools are worth funding, and that communities will��back��that commitment at the ballot box.��

The policy landscape is similarly aligned. Evolving energy codes in both states are driving demand for schools that prioritize efficiency, renewable generation, and reduced fossil fuel reliance. Sustainability strategies that were once aspirational—daylighting, natural ventilation, solar generation, stormwater management—are now baseline expectations in both markets. The frontier of the conversation has moved upstream, from operational energy use to the embodied carbon inherent in the materials and processes��required��to build and renovate in the first place.����

The key distinction between the two markets is demographic. California enrollment is��largely stable��or slightly declining, while Colorado’s population growth is driving enrollment increases and expanding housing development across the region. That translates into demand for both new campuses and significant modernization of existing ones.��

SCN:��Many districts are balancing enrollment growth, aging infrastructure, and budget pressure. How can architecture help schools do more with limited resources?��

Williams:��There is no universal answer to the gap between funding and��need��that every public school district faces. Sometimes a creative renovation is the right investment; sometimes demolition and replacement of an aging facility is the better long-term decision. What matters is that the solution fits the place.��

In every case, the goal is the same: buildings that meet today’s needs while��remaining��adaptable, and that incorporate systems district facilities staff can��actually operate��and maintain effectively. Architecture helps schools do more with limited resources when��it’s��rigorous about long-term cost of ownership, not just first cost—and when��it’s��honest about which investments will still be paying dividends in 20 or 30 years.��

SCN:��Colorado districts vary widely—from fast-growing suburban systems to rural communities. How should education design adapt to��very different��local needs rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions?��

Williams:��Every project starts with active listening. Before we reach for a solution, we work to understand what a particular district, campus, and community actually��need. We have decades of experience in school design, but we focus more on bringing that��expertise��to creatively respond to a client’s goals than on telling them what they should think. The best designs respond to the constraints that make a school community and site unique—not necessarily those with the largest footprint or the biggest budgets. Across a state as varied as Colorado, that posture��isn’t��optional;��it’s��the only approach that works.��

SCN:��You bring��nearly��20��years of education design experience. What are the biggest shifts��you’ve��seen in learning environments over that time, and how will those lessons influence your Colorado work?��

Williams:��The biggest shifts��haven’t��been in classroom layout or building configuration;��they’ve��come from the systems, technology, and construction methods that make schools work��over time. As I mentioned previously, this is��apparent��in the shift in priorities��regarding��sustainability strategies. As certain strategies become the baseline, we can move to��focusing��more on concerns like embodied carbon.����

That whole-lifecycle thinking, developed through years of California work, is a direct asset as Colorado districts make long-term infrastructure decisions. Our Colorado presence��isn’t��designed to function as a stand-alone regional office; the vision is a distributed studio model—one firm,��operating��across multiple geographies, carrying the same design standards, technical rigor, and culture that have defined QKA for four decades. For Colorado districts, that means access not just to a local team, but to the full depth of QKA’s institutional knowledge, built project by project, district by district, over 40 years.��

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MILPITAS, Calif. — Milpitas Unified School District has broken ground on Phase III of its Milpitas Innovation Campus, starting the final construction stage of a multi-phase learning and career training hub in Milpitas.����

District and project leaders said the last phase will add dedicated facilities for workforce development and early childhood education research, building on campus components that opened in fall 2023 and fall 2024.����

Phase III is planned to deliver two separate buildings: a 9,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center and a 3,500-square-foot Early Childhood Education Research Center, according to QKA.����

MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan pointed to the campus’s broader impact, saying, “The multi-year development of this project at the intersection of global Silicon Valley has allowed us to see the benefits these facilities and programs are already bringing to our students, residents and businesses.”��

Jordan also described the role of the final phase within the overall campus plan: “Phase Three is the cornerstone of the MUSD Innovation Campus as it provides our industry, governance, community organizations and educators with a place to convene in partnership for work-based learning and durable skills development for career and life.”��

QKA said the Workforce Development Center will include meeting rooms, offices, conference rooms, a cafe,��kitchen��and lobby. The meeting rooms are designed to be reconfigured using operable partitions to create larger gathering space for conferences and��MUSD��Board of Education meetings. The kitchen is planned to open to a covered outdoor dining area��adjacent to��the campus’s existing main quad.����

The Early Childhood Education Research Center is described as having two classrooms with restrooms, along with breakout and administrative spaces.����

QKA President Aaron Jobson said the team emphasized flexibility across age groups and subject areas, noting the goal was to create “adaptable learning environments” that can support “a wide range of subjects and industries.”����

Project partners include QKA as designer for all phases, Blach Construction as builder and TBK Construction Management as construction manager.����

The release also notes sustainability measures such as designing toward Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) certification, using renewable power from MUSD’s existing photovoltaic system, and incorporating energy-efficient lighting, all-electric mechanical systems, stormwater��catchment��and water-efficient landscaping.����

Funding for the $90 million,��nearly 100,000-square-foot��Innovation Campus is attributed to the 2018 Bond Measure AA and California state-matching grants, with Phase��III��expected to complete in��summer 2027.����

This article is based on a press release originally published by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects on April 28, 2026.����

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By Sarah Clow

As student housing is a growing part of the higher education design and construction conversation,���鶹������ attended the Bisnow San Diego Student Housing & Higher Education Conference on May 13. The event brought together developers, university administrators, architects, and construction leaders, with a focus on balancing growth with affordability and changing��needs and��expecations��regarding��student experience. Across the board,��panelists��agreed that��institutions are rethinking��the traditional student housing model, and for many students next-generation housing options are��non-negotiable.��

Building For All — Balancing Housing Growth with Affordability��

There is a growing��student housing crisis in San Diego, where most universities can only guarantee housing for first- and second-year students. Panelists��were��candid about the structural barriers to building more attainable housing — and financing topped the list. When asked to��identify��the biggest hurdle — financing, land,��or approvals —��nearly every��panelist��pointed to��financing but also pointed��to strategies��for bringing costs down. Chief among them: increasing density.����

Adding more beds to existing builds helps spread construction costs across more units, improving the economics of a project without sacrificing quality. Delivery methods also came up as a key lever, with progressive design-build highlighted as an effective tool for faster, more cost-efficient delivery.��

Panelists��noted a��distinct��shift in how institutions are thinking about the relationship between unit size and community space. Square footage per student is shrinking, while investment in recreation and amenity spaces is growing — a deliberate strategy to push students toward shared community while also keeping per-bed costs down. When asked��about must-have��amenities for higher education projects, panelists pointed to outdoor programmatic space and collaborative, community-focused interiors as essential.��

Speakers included:��Hemlata Jhaveri, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor at UC San Diego; Bob Schulz, University Architect and Associate VP of Real Estate at SDSU; Abbie Hawkins, VP of Development at The Michaels Organization; Lindsey Sielaff, Operations Manager at Hensel Phelps; Richard King, Principal at Gensler; and Lisa Norombaba, Executive Director of Wesley House.��

Panel 2: From Dorms to Destination — Redefining the Student Living Experience

Today’s students��value��quality over quantity, and the��student housing��industry is responding.��

The ongoing��shift toward wellness-focused design��is��bringing spas, fitness centers, relaxation spaces, and mental health-supportive environments��into student housing. Interestingly,��these offerings��are no longer��considered��amenities —��they’re��expectations. Panelists noted that younger students are willing to trade square footage for higher-quality finishes and thoughtful design, a trend that is reshaping unit mix strategies toward smaller one- and two-bedroom configurations.��

Landscape and outdoor space took center stage, particularly in the Southern California context. Panelists from McCullough Landscape Architecture emphasized the growing importance of connection to nature, flexible outdoor��programming��and visibility — both for community building and for safety. Transparency and sightlines in outdoor spaces were called out as important design tools for creating environments where students feel secure.��

However, the panel pushed back on trend-chasing in amenity design. For example,��rather than��including a��golf simulator��—��a shiny��amenity that��doesn’t��hold long-term value��—��panelists��emphasized��creating genuine “third spaces” for socialization: areas that��aren’t��over-programmed, allowing students to use them organically.��

Walkability and bike-ability also��emerged��as a priority, with several panelists��advocating for��pedestrian-focused campus design as a means of supporting both student health and affordability by reducing transportation costs.��

The panel also highlighted an interesting tension in the market: while many developers are moving toward smaller bed counts and higher-end amenities to attract students willing to pay a premium, San Diego Community College District is taking a different approach — building higher-density housing with fewer amenities to maximize access for lower-income students. Both strategies reflect the breadth of need in the market.��

On the technology and security front, panelists pointed to smart package and food delivery lockers as an increasingly expected feature — a practical response to the realities of how students live today.��

Finally, the Southern California advantage was hard to ignore. The indoor-outdoor lifestyle is a genuine differentiator in design, and solar energy adoption is accelerating. Core Spaces highlighted a project near UCSD where rooftop and parking structure solar arrays are expected to cover��the majority of��the building’s energy costs — a compelling case for sustainability as both a��values��play and a financial one.��

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• Cal State San Marcos held a topping-out ceremony April 24 for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, marking the placement of the final structural beam.��
• The��roughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story building is slated to open in fall 2027 with laboratories, a robotics suite and collaboration-focused learning space.��
• CSUSM leaders say the project supports expansion of engineering programs, including growth in engineering enrollment from about 500 students to��nearly 2,000��and a planned industrial and systems engineering program.��
• The project follows a July 31, 2025,��groundbreaking for what CSUSM then called the Integrated Science and Engineering Building, an estimated $110 million facility designed by HGA with C.W. Driver Companies as general contractor.����
• A $10 million gift from Hunter Industries helped advance the project and is tied to CSUSM’s $200 million “Blueprint for the Future” fundraising campaign.��

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal State San Marcos celebrated a key construction milestone for its new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, bringing campus leaders,��donors��and community supporters together April 24 to mark the building’s topping out.����

The ceremony, a construction tradition that includes signing and lifting the final structural beam, highlights progress on a��roughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story facility��— designed by HGA being built by general contractor C.W. Driver Companies — is��scheduled to open in fall 2027.����

University officials said the new��$110 million��hall is intended to create��additional��capacity for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) while supporting the campus’ emphasis on student success and social mobility.����

“This facility is social mobility in action.��It’s��about providing access for students, many of whom are the first in their families to go to college, stepping into fields that are shaping the future,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said, according to��an article from CSUSM��NewsCenter.��

Hunter Hall is expected to include��state-of-the-art��laboratories, a robotics suite and collaborative learning spaces. The project will help expand engineering enrollment from 500 to��nearly 2,000��students and support the launch of a new industrial and systems engineering program, building on existing electrical, software and computer engineering offerings.��

The three-story building��is being��constructed at the top of campus between Markstein Hall and the Arts Building and will��include teaching and research labs, classrooms, student support areas, staff offices, a��caf�and outdoor gathering spaces.��

Hunter Industries��has��committed a $10 million philanthropic investment to support construction��—��one of the largest gifts in university history.����

“An educated workforce is the foundation of a thriving economy,” said Greg Hunter, CEO of Hunter Industries, according to��an article from CSUSM��NewsCenter. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with CSUSM and invest in a facility that will empower students, strengthen our community and drive innovation for decades to come.”��

CSUSM said the gift helped advance its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign, which the university describes as its most ambitious fundraising effort to date, and positioned the project as part of broader plans to expand facilities and STEM programming.��

Get more weekly reports and��timely��updates by subscribing for free at��schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.��

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• The��San Diego Community College District’s��Saville Performing Arts Center Replacement project at San Diego City College��has moved into the schematic design phase.��
• The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new performing arts facility of about��28,000 square feet��designed for academic programs and community use.����
• Scope includes demolition, hazardous materials abatement, utility��relocation��and upgrades, plus site improvements including new walkways and ADA-compliant paths of travel.��
• The work is part of the Measure HH Bond Program, approved in November 2024, totaling��$3.5 billion.��

SAN DIEGO —��The Saville Theatre Replacement Project��at��, part of the district’s Measure HH Bond Program,��has��officially moved��from the programming phase into schematic design.��The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new,��approximately 28,000-square-foot��performing arts facility designed to support academic programs and community use.

The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use.��The��programming��process brought together��faculty��and��staff��members, who��joined the��Design-Build team of����and����for��a series of workshops and discussions��to help shape the project vision, offering insights on��instructional needs,��room configurations, and��how��to best��support teaching,��learning��and live performance.����

Work��will include��the abatement, demolition, and removal of the existing Saville Theatre and the removal and replacement of associated site utilities and appurtenances in alignment with the campus’s Master Plan.��New construction of approximately 20,000 assignable square feet (ASF) includes a street-level lobby with Box Office, restrooms, and manager’s office. A��mew��main theatre will include 250–350 seats, including stage, orchestra��pit��and control room as well as a scene shop and costume shop. Other support spaces include rehearsal rooms, recording/editing��spaces��and dance studios.����

Planned exterior work also includes new walkways, sustainable landscaping and irrigation, signage��and ADA-compliant paths of travel��that will connect to a future outdoor��amphitheatre.��

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) on this important project,” said Ryan Nessen,��Senior��Vice��President��and California��District��Manager, according to��a press release from Sundt Construction.����

“This selection reflects the trust we have built over more than two decades and our commitment to delivering high-quality facilities that serve students and the broader community,” Nessen��added.��

Measure HH, approved in November 2024, is a��$3.5 billion��bond program that will provide��state-of-the-art��educational facilities, address long-deferred maintenance needs, and support accessibility and equity across the district’s colleges.��

The project team also includes structural engineering firm KPFF, civil engineer Latitude 33, and mechanical and electrical engineer MA Engineers/Johnson Consulting Engineers.��

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What You Need to Know��

• California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a final study assessing potential health risks from��recycled-tire��“crumb rubber” used as synthetic turf infill.����

• OEHHA reported no evidence of a��significant��risk of cancer or other health problems for athletes, coaches, referees, or spectators — including young athletes and toddlers.����

• The nine-year effort evaluated��35 fields��across California, analyzed��100+ chemicals, and included air sampling plus exposure research involving��1,000+ soccer players.����

• OEHHA said the findings may help inform California sustainability and waste-tire management goals as synthetic turf use expands statewide.����

Learn More��

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —��California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has concluded that crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires is not likely to pose a significant health risk to people who use or watch games on synthetic turf fields.����

In a March 5 press release, OEHHA said its final report found “no evidence of significant risk for cancer or other health problems” tied to crumb rubber exposure for players, coaches,��referees��and spectators, including young athletes.����

The assessment focused on crumb rubber, the small granules produced by grinding recycled waste tires and commonly used as��infill��between synthetic grass blades. OEHHA said the material helps keep turf fibers upright, adds cushioning and improves traction.����

“This study should ease concerns about the safety of crumb rubber use in synthetic turf fields,” said OEHHA Director Kris Thayer, “Athletes of all ages can use these fields without parents worrying about this commonly used material,” according to��.����

OEHHA said synthetic turf is widely used because it requires less maintenance, uses less��water��and can support play without rest periods. The agency cited more than 900 synthetic turf installations in California.����

The report was also framed as part of California’s broader waste-tire and sustainability efforts.

“Protecting public health is our top priority, and California is committed to making sure waste tires are managed safely so they don’t litter communities or pose risks to residents,”��CalRecycle��Director Zoe Heller said, according to��.����

To evaluate potential health impacts, OEHHA tested 35 synthetic turf fields across the state, selecting both older and newer sites and including locations from each of California’s climate regions. The agency collected multiple samples from each field to address variation in source materials��and also��took air samples during active field use and when fields were idle.����

OEHHA said it assessed more than 100 chemicals that could pose a risk, a broader scope than prior studies that reviewed fewer compounds. The agency coordinated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to simulate sweat and digestion as part of��identifying��chemicals people could potentially contact.����

OEHHA also worked with researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona to examine how soccer players may be exposed — including through skin contact,��inhalation��and incidental ingestion. The team surveyed more than 1,000 soccer players ages 7 to 71 about play habits such as sliding and diving, and recorded games and practices to quantify field contact. Because goalkeepers tend to have the most contact with the surface, OEHHA said goalie data were used to estimate risk for players. The analysis also considered toddlers who might crawl on turf.����

In its risk characterization, OEHHA reported no acute risk for athletes, referees,��coaches��or spectators, including toddlers. In most cases, the agency said risks of sensory irritation, cancer, reproductive��harm��or effects on a developing fetus were “negligible.”����

This article is based on reporting originally published by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on March 5, 2026.��

��

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What You Need to Know��

• Sundt Construction has started site preparation for the Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School facility in San Diego.����

• Sundt described the project as a 96,000-gross-square-foot, five-story campus planned to serve about 800 students, with new construction��anticipated��to begin in summer 2026.��

• The 85,000-square-foot adaptive reuse��project��centers on a light-filled atrium intended to function as a vertical student��commons.����

• Albert Einstein Academies’ board previously postponed the school’s opening to fall 2027, citing supply chain delays.��

Learn More��

SAN DIEGO —��Sundt Construction has started work on the Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School project in San Diego, moving into early site preparation ahead of new construction expected later this year.����

“Breaking ground on this project is an exciting milestone.��We’re��proud to help create an environment that will support students’ growth,��curiosity��and future success,” said John Messick, Sundt project director, according to��.��

In its announcement, Sundt said the future campus is planned as a��96,000-gross-square-foot,��five-story��facility designed to support International Baccalaureate instruction and the academic progression of Albert Einstein Academy’s middle years program students. Once complete, the high school is expected to serve��approximately 800 students, Sundt said.����

Planned spaces include 25 classrooms and workrooms, a library, central circulation and collaboration areas, administrative offices, a multipurpose room, food service and culinary classrooms, fitness, dance and weight rooms, a music room and a 200-seat auditorium, according to Sundt. The contractor said the first phase is focused on site preparation, including abatement and removal of the existing building, with new construction anticipated to begin in summer 2026. The adaptive reuse project will be��organized��around a central, light-filled atrium that serves as a vertical��student��commons. It will include��flexible collaboration zones, quiet study��areas��and outdoor learning balconies intended to give students more choice in how they learn and connect.��

Civic��and activity-based programs are planned for the first two stories to allow easier access for community members. The primary community hub and main entry are planned for level three at street level, while classrooms, labs and other academic instruction spaces are planned for the two upper levels.����

Separately, the Albert Einstein Academies Board of Trustees announced that it postponed the opening of Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School. “Originally scheduled to open in Fall 2026, the new high school will now open in��fall 2027,” according to��. The charter operator cited supply chain delays affecting construction materials.��

The��school will��ultimately reach��800 students��in grades 9–12 in the��2029–2030��academic year.��

Sundt��has supported San Diego Unified School District across multiple K-12 facilities, including current and recent work at Hardy Elementary School, Canyon Hills High School, Marston Middle��School��and Morse High School.��

This article is based on information published by Sundt Construction, DLR Group and Albert Einstein Academies.��

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What You Need to Know

• West Contra Costa Unified School District recently celebrated completion of the Lake Elementary School Campus Replacement Project in San Pablo, Calif.
• The Bond Measure R-funded, design-build effort replaced an outdated campus and will serve 470 students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.
• New construction totals 56,700 square feet and includes learning-suite classroom clusters, a library, administrative spaces and a multipurpose building with a kitchen sized to serve the full student body.
• Safety and accessibility upgrades include higher-elevation synthetic turf fields and new paved play areas, replacing flood-prone grass fields.
• The multipurpose room and library are planned for permitted community use after hours.

Learn More

SAN PABLO, Calif. — West Contra Costa Unified School District recently celebrated the completion of a new Lake Elementary School campus replacement designed to deliver modern learning environments for students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.

The Bond Measure R-funded project replaced an “outdated and undersized campus” and was delivered through a design-build partnership between Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Alten Construction, according to a press release from QKA.

The new campus is designed to serve 470 students and introduces 56,700 square feet of facilities that extend beyond standard classroom space. In addition to new instructional areas, the project includes a library, administrative spaces and a multipurpose building with a large kitchen that can serve the full student body, the release states.

“This campus marks a new era for our students and the entire community,” said WCCUSD Superintendent Cheryl Cotton. “These facilities are a source of immense pride, replacing buildings that were no longer up to code or capable of supporting our educational programs. The campus now provides students and staff with the essential resources they need to thrive. Thank you to the project team and the community for your support in bringing our new school to life.” according to .

Instructional areas are organized around the “Learning Suite” concept intended to support specialized and collaborative teaching. Under the approach, classrooms are grouped around shared, flexible open spaces and break-out areas, the release states.

Site work prioritized safety and accessibility, including replacing flood-prone grass fields with higher-elevation synthetic turf fields and adding new paved play areas. The release also positions the campus as a civic hub, with the multipurpose room and library available for permitted community use after school hours.

“We are proud to partner with the district and Alten to make the new Lake Elementary School a reality. Our priority was ensuring a safe learning environment both during the complex phases of construction and for generations of students to come,” said QKA Principal John Dybczak. according to .

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What You Need to Know:��

• DLR Group released renderings and a modernization plan to replace��roughly 30%��of Palisades Charter High School classrooms lost in the Palisades Fire one year ago.��

• The plan includes a new two-story classroom building, a single-story academy building, and restored athletics facilities, with interim spaces planned to keep programs running during construction.��

• Los Angeles Unified School District expects a partial campus return in January, with major construction slated to begin in late 2026 and full occupancy��anticipated��in 2028.��

• Design priorities include expanded career technical education space, indoor-outdoor learning areas, and wildfire-resiliency strategies spanning site planning, materials, and indoor air quality protections.��

Learn More:��

LOS ANGELES — DLR Group has unveiled a rebuild and modernization plan for Palisades Charter High School, releasing new campus renderings on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire that destroyed about 30% of the school’s classroom space.��

Working with Los Angeles Unified School District and community stakeholders, the design team said the effort is intended to return students and staff to permanent facilities while adding flexible learning environments and resiliency features shaped by wildfire risk.��

As lead architect, DLR Group’s scope includes a new two-story classroom building and a single-story academy building, along with a restored track and field area that adds a new field building and a renewed facility to replace the baseball field. The firm said construction sequencing will incorporate strategically placed spaces to support on-campus programs while work is underway.��

Los Angeles Unified plans a partial campus return this month, using remediated surviving buildings and modular interim classrooms. New-building construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with full occupancy of the reimagined campus��anticipated��in 2028.��

Programmatically, the team is using the rebuild to address spaces lost in the fire and update learning environments. With career technical education areas impacted, the two-story building is planned to centralize film, media, engineering, and maker spaces. DLR Group said the CTE suite is designed to support acoustic needs, advanced filming capability and indoor-outdoor flexibility. The plan also adds collaborative and gathering areas intended to serve the broader campus.��

The design concept emphasizes interwoven indoor-outdoor circulation and gathering spaces, extending learning beyond traditional classrooms.��DLR��Group said the approach draws inspiration from the campus setting between coastal cliffs and a canyon. Planned features include learning stairs; ground-floor science, engineering, and maker spaces connected to outdoor learning zones; and stacked classroom configurations paired with adjacent teacher collaboration areas. Outdoor plazas, rain gardens, and amphitheater-like spaces are intended to support layered moments of learning and gathering.��

Fire resiliency measures are embedded in both site planning and building systems, according to the release. Landscape strategies include native, fire-adapted plantings, terraced slopes, shaded fuel break areas, and a maintained 30-foot defensible zone around new buildings that��avoids��woody plants and bark mulch while using fire-resistant ground covers. Stormwater features are designed to serve as fire breaks while providing rainwater collection.��

On the building side, DLR Group said the design specifies Class A roofing and non-combustible cladding, including metal panel systems and brick veneer to align with existing campus architecture. To support indoor air quality during wildfire events, the buildings are designed to shift to a protective mode, with sealed economizers, reduced roof penetrations and rooftop mechanical strategies intended to limit smoke intrusion. Rooftop solar panels are planned to provide power support during emergencies.��

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