MISSION VALLEY, Calif.—The Golden State’s own C.W. Driver Companies has teamed up with San Diego Unified School District to complete the district’s Nipaquay Elementary School, which is named for a Native American village that existed in the San Diego area prior to contact with Europeans. The school’s name translated means “our other home,� and it will indeed serve as a home away from home for students able to make the trip there via public transit or via bike as the school offers several bike racks.

The $58 million Nipaquay Elementary, located in the Mission Valley area, will be host to 500 students in the Civita subdevelopment at its 77,250 square feet of educational space. The K-5 school will offer hybrid indoor-outdoor classrooms, a two-story entryway that will be home to student services, a multipurpose facility, as well as a library and various other student and staff amenities. The school’s dedicated instruction and play areas include Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK), as well as modern classrooms for first-grade through fifth-grade students.

The Kumeyaay village of Nipaquay was an important centerpiece of Native trade routes in the area that came to be known later as San Diego following Spanish conquest. A local naming commission agreed on “Nipaquay� as the name for the new school, which was unanimously approved later by the board of education.

“One small step toward restorative justice, this name recognizes and celebrates the long history of indigenous peoples,� Olympia Beltran, a representative for the Kanap Kuahan Coalition and the San Diego Human Relations Commission, said of the choice of nomenclature.

C.W. Driver worked alongside architect domusstudio architecture of San Diego. The contractor broke ground in May 2020, thus entailing a construction timeline of nearly two and a half years. Nipaquay’s grand opening in November was timed to coincide with Native American Heritage Month. The event entailed the presentation of the colors by the Kearny High Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and traditional celebrations from the local Indigenous community.

“We are proud to have created a space that can acknowledge and celebrate the rich history of Mission Valley while paving the way for both educational and community growth,â€� Sam Myovich, project director with C.W. Driver, said in a recent statement to Â鶹¸£ÀûÍø.

“We continue the tradition to recognize our indigenous staff and students year-round,� Dr. Lamont Jackson, superintendent of San Diego Unified, said at the recent unveiling, adding that “for this 32nd annual November Native American Heritage Month, we acknowledge our diverse students and staff who make our school district and Nipaquay Elementary so unique.�

Funding for Nipaquay Elementary was procured through the voter-approved Proposition Z, which was combined with state schools facilities funding.

District Board of Education Trustee Kevin Beiser, who is retiring from the board at the end of the year, said the Nipaquay project represents a fine cap to his years of service.

“Seeing students, parents, teachers, and staff here at Nipaquay reassures me that the future is bright for San Diego Unified,� Beiser said.

Added Michael Goodbody, Nipaquay Elementary’s principal: “Just like the name ‘Nipaquay,’ I hope that this campus feels like a second home for the neighborhood and our students.�

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SAN DIEGO—General contractor C.W. Driver Companies is hard at work on two modernization projects for the San Diego Unified School District at La Jolla Elementary School and the John Muir Language Academy.

At La Jolla Elementary, which serves students from kindergarten to 5th grade, upgrades are being made to existing classrooms and an existing kitchen will be remodeled. New construction entails a two-story administration and classroom building, as well as new classrooms, cafeteria and various other elements. The new administration and classroom building will allow for a single point of entry to the campus. Furthermore, upgrades will be made to the school’s classroom technology capabilities. On the exterior, the parking lot will be expanded and an area dedicated to student drop-off added as well.

C.W. Driver is working in concert with Domusstudio Architecture, the architect of record, at La Jolla Elementary. The project is partially funded by moneys set aside by Prop S, Z and YY bonds. Construction is expected to be finished in 2024.

At John Muir, which hosts students from kindergarten to 8th grade, all existing buildings are undergoing renovation. Furthermore, C.W. Driver will be adding a two-story classroom and physical education structure, as well as an administration wing. The kindergarten and kitchen areas will be expanded and the parking and drop-off areas reconfigured for maximum efficiency as well. A new parking area specifically for staff is being added too.

Architect of record Baker Nowicki Design Studio is working on John Muir with C.W. Driver. Construction; now underway, the work is projected to end in 2023.

Keith Kauffman, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies, said that his firm is excited to be partnering with the San Diego Unified School District on updating schools throughout the county.

“We will leverage our extensive experience in building education facilities to deliver an engaging, collaborative environment while minimizing the impact of construction on students, faculty and staff,� Kauffman said in a statement.

“As the second-largest district in California serving more than 121,000 students in preschool through grade 12, providing optimized learning environments for our students is a top priority,� added Lee Dulgeroff, chief facilities planning and construction officer at San Diego Unified School District. “We are confident that C.W. Driver Companies’ modernizations of La Jolla Elementary and John Muir Language Academy will enhance the educational experience and prepare our students for the future.�

C.W. Driver Companies has completed nearly 200 ground-up and modernization projects across Southern California, including educational projects that include Woodbridge High School’s Performing Arts Complex for the Irvine Unified School District, Flintridge Preparatory School’s Bachmann Collaboration Building in La Cañada Flintridge, as well as work for Menifee Unified School District. The contractor also built a brand-new K-5 school for San Diego Unified School District in the Mission Valley area of the city.

C.W. Driver’s Southern California offices include Los Angeles, Irvine, Rancho Cucamonga, Anaheim, San Diego and Carlsbad. The company was ranked in Engineering News Record’s top 150 General Contractors and top 100 Construction Managers.

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