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

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • William Penn Charter School

    Richard A. Balderston OPC’69 Lower School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Richard A. Balderston OPC’69 Lower School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Secret to Efficient, On-Time School Infrastructure & Modernization Projects is All in the Preparation

    Warmer weather and longer days make summer the ideal time for construction and modernization projects at educational facilities. School boards and construction firms must coordinate effectively to ensure that these projects do not extend even a single day into the school year and impede classroom operation.