Add as a preferred source on Google

STEAM-Focused Elementary School Kicks Off Whole Site Modernization

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/17/22

Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School, part of the San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently broke ground on a whole site modernization project. The project will see the new construction of a two-story classroom building, as well as renovations and modernization to all classrooms and a wide variety of campus enhancements, according to a news release.

“Franklin has served generations of students in the Kensington and City Heights communities for 93 years and counting,” said Dr. Lamont Jackson, Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. “We’re excited to bring Franklin students new facilities and technology that will enhance their educational experience, while creating new memories that will carry onto the next generation.”

According to a news release, the new classroom building will feature amenities like collaborative workspaces, staff lounge and food services kitchen. The student dining area will be expanded to include an outdoor shade canopy. Safety and security improvements are set to include a student services suite; a single, monitored point of entry; a modern public address and intercom system; cameras; fire alarm and intrusion systems; and secure fencing around the entire perimeter. The school will also see renovations to its kindergarten and higher-grade playgrounds, set to include a learning garden with a shade canopy and a landscaped bioretention basin.

“You walk onto our campus and you can see and feel the history,” said Franklin Principal Melissa Roy-Wood. “But you also see aging buildings and a need for expanded play areas. So, we are beyond ecstatic about this makeover.”

The project is being funded through Propositions S and Z, as well as Measure YY, both local bond measures approved by local voters. The district partnered with Safdie Rabines Architects for site design and with C.W. Driver for construction. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2024.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet

    The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

Digital Edition