California School Showcases Modernization

Solana Highlands Middle SchoolSolana Highlands Elementary School in the Carmel Valley (California) recently enjoyed the completion of a full refresh and modernization. The structure has served students for 30 years, and with the passage of the Solana  Beach School District’s Measure JJ School Bond, has been updated with modern HVAC, exterior renovations, and classroom spaces, among other elements.

Some of the additional steps taken include the removal of steps and lowering of fixtures to make the school more ADA-compliant.  Students will also benefit from an updated outdoor lunch shelter and indoor service area, and the addition of astroturf to the outdoor play area. Staff will enjoy a larger teacher’s lounge and the addition of more storage space.

The project was started in June, and a majority of the work was completed by the time school began. An official ribbon-cutting celebration will take place in mid-January 2018, showcasing the updated space during an all-school assembly.

Featured

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • 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.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.