Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility. The district partnered with C.W. Driver Companies on the project, which cost an estimated $102 million.

The new building has the capacity for 600 students. Amenities include multipurpose spaces, project-based learning facilities, visual and performing arts classrooms, special education classrooms, STEM classrooms, a cafeteria, library, administrative office, and additional services, according to the news release.

“The development of Malibu High School’s new core building was a great opportunity to build an interdisciplinary learning environment for students to be able to excel in all subjects,” said Dave Amundson, C.W. Driver project executive. “It helped us provide another wonderful learning facility for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s needs, so they can focus on supporting their students.”

According to the news release, C.W. Driver demolished nine existing buildings and implemented 30 concrete walls with unique mixes that prioritized sustainability. Natural materials from the nearby Santa Monica Mountains helped the project achieve California Title 24 certification and the ability to meet Net Zero standards.

“It was such a pleasure working with C.W. Driver to build a campus that suits all students' needs while providing a hands-on learning experience in all subjects,” said Carey Upton, Santa Monica-Malibu USD’s Chief Operations Officer. “An interdisciplinary campus like this will be a stepping stone for future campuses as the learning experience continues to become more experiential.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

Digital Edition