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• The Bond Measure R-funded, design-build effort replaced an outdated campus and will serve 470 students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.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.

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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The Bond Measure R-funded project replaced an “outdated and undersized campus” and was delivered through a design-build partnership between Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Alten Construction, according to a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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SAN PABLO, Calif.—Designer Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) has commenced its work for the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) on a complete campus replacement of Lake Elementary School, whose buildings were considered not suitable for modern educational purposes. The new campus will eventually host 500 students from kindergarten through 6th grade.

As designed by QKA, the reimagined school will offer visitors a pleasing main entrance, immediately beyond which will be the library and housing administrative services. The interior design allows for flexible spaces for 4th through 6th grades that can be adapted for larger gatherings and shared learning spaces.

At the campus center, the school will have a cafeteria, performance space, multipurpose areas, as well as dining options that can be enjoyed inside or al fresco in California sunshine. A main thoroughfare will allow students to briskly move from one area of the school to another.

It was important to the WCCUSD that the new school be as sustainable as possible, so recycled building materials were incorporated throughout. The school also features a “cool roof” as well as LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient mechanical elements. On the exterior, the design called for synthetic turf to mitigate the need for irrigation, and enough shade over the playgrounds and exterior dining areas ensures that extra water isn’t wasted unnecessarily.

Alten Construction Inc. is working with QKA to realize the redesigned campus. John Dybczak, QKA principal and CFO, said that his firm was cognizant of recognizing that the needs of Lake Elementary’s future extended well beyond the classroom.

“Our trusted design-build partnership with Alten Construction was invaluable as we navigated the serious challenges associated with demolishing and rebuilding a school campus while prioritizing safety and uninterrupted learning throughout the process,” he said.

In a subsequent statement to �鶹������, Dybczak said that QKA and Alten worked hand-in-glove with district personnel to ensure the redesigned school’s current and future needs are met.

“From there, the design-build team collaborated with the facilities department to seek solutions for the project’s most significant challenge: demolishing and rebuilding a school while classes remain in session,” he said. “Together, we were able to develop a phased approach to construction that accommodates classroom needs and maintains student safety. The end result will be a completely redesigned campus home to flexible learning suites that allow classrooms to adapt easily to a variety of curricular needs.”

Bob Alten, president & CEO of Alten Construction Inc., said that the groundbreaking itself has shown how the project will meet its timeline. “Our team has worked hard to mitigate the cost escalation challenges that the construction industry has endured over the past several years to ensure the success of the project and save the taxpayers money,” he said.

The new school is projected to be completed in the summer of 2025.

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