Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Modernization Project Begins at San Diego High School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/09/22

San Diego High School in San Diego, Calif., recently kicked off a Whole Site Modernization project intended to rejuvenate the 140-year-old campus. Renovations to the oldest high school in the city will include transforming the campus frontage, expanding the central quad, and renovating student spaces and classrooms, according to a district news release.

Local news reports that construction will be done in phases to minimize disruption to the school’s 2,500 students. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025, said the district.

“We are thrilled to see these improvements come to fruition on our campus,” said Francisca Del Carmen, the school’s principal. “We have 140 years of history at this site; now we get to make another hundred in the high-quality facilities our students deserve.”

The school first opened in 1882. It got a new building in 1907 and another new main building as well as a campus expansion in 1976. Officials gathered on Tuesday, May 3, for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the school’s first major overhaul in 45 years.

According to a project portfolio on the district website, improvements are slated to include:

  • Renovating and modernizing existing buildings, including interior finishes
  • Upgrading HVAC systems
  • Upgrading restrooms to meet code compliance
  • Upgrading campus security systems
  • Expanding the student quad and adding food kiosks
  • Reconfiguring campus parking to streamline student drop-off and pick-up
  • Upgrading the campus stadium and athletic fields for public recreation
  • Constructing a new performing arts/classroom building

“All San Diego Unified students deserve a campus they can be proud of,” said Dr. Lamont Jackson, San Diego Unified Superintendent. “Modern learning environments, like the ones planned at San Diego High, will help students thrive in all of their endeavors.”

Funding for the project comes from three local bond measures—Propositions S and Z and Measure YY—previously approved by San Diego voters.

Swinerton construction company is leading the construction effort, according to local news.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Florida Gulf Coast University Selects Builder for New Academic Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla., recently announced that it has selected development and construction firm Skanska to build a new academic and health sciences building, according to a news release. Marieb Hall South will become the campus’ largest academic building at 158,040 square feet.

  • California District Debuts New High-School CTE Center

    The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CTE Center at Analy High School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the facility’s design and GCCI for its construction, and funding came from local Measure A bond funds.

  • California Middle School Breaks Ground on Major Renovation Project

    The Hillsborough City School District (HCSD) in Hillsborough, Calif., recently began construction on new multipurpose and administration facilities for Crocker Middle School, according to a news release.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.