California Middle School Completes Two New Academic Buildings

Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently announced that construction is complete on two new classroom buildings of two stories each, according to a district news release. The new wing will house seventh- and eighth-grade students and is part of a larger campus modernization project. Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and LPA, Inc., provided design services, while Blach Construction handled the build.

The two buildings add a total of 35,000 square feet, 23 adaptable classrooms, an art classroom, five student breakout spaces, a teacher collaboration area, and a 23,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard.

“I am grateful to our community for supporting our bond measures and making it possible to upgrade our school facilities. These improvements will directly enhance the learning experience for our students,” said Sunnyvale School District Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite. “I also want to thank our outstanding project team for staying on track with such an ambitious timeline. This allows us to make a meaningful difference for as many students as possible, as quickly as possible.”

The new wing is on track toward receiving a Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)-Designed certification. Design elements emphasizing sustainability include bioretention basins to capture and filter stormwater as well as solar panels as a source of renewable energy.

“Collaboration was key to bringing the stakeholders and design teams together to meet programmatic goals to deliver a project ready for students to start the school year,” said LPA, Inc., senior project manager Denise Flatley. “Locating the buildings to create a courtyard that connects to Spartan Square, leaving space for the future growth of the campus by utilizing two-story buildings, and emphasizing the need for interior and exterior learning space for the social and emotional growth of the students were our top priorities. The result is a student centric space we are excited to see students use daily.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

Digital Edition