Add as a preferred source on Google

California High School Breaks Ground on New Student Union Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/05/23

Hollister High School, part of the San Benito High School District (SBHSD) in Hollister, Calif., recently broke ground on a new student union building, according to a news release. The new facility will provide the school’s 3,500 students with multipurpose gathering spaces, food service area, and state-of-the-art kitchen. The building measures in at 8,500 square feet and was designed by Aedis Architects.

"Our new Student Union is a marquee project for the community that will further enhance our Hollister High School campus and, more importantly, positively impact the needs of our expanding student body,” said SBHSD Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum, Ed.D. “Once complete, it will offer students new and centralized areas to meet, collaborate and study while enabling us to increase our crucial food service offerings. We thank the project team and the community for their partnership and unwavering support in making this new Student Union a reality.”

The new facility was designed to meet the needs of rapid enrollment growth. It will replace other campus food service establishments that can only accommodate about 65% of the school’s students. The union will also include an exterior quad as a gathering space for students.

Funding comes from state-matching funds, state appropriation via the state budget, and restricted and unrestricted revenues, according to the news release. The district partnered with Blach Construction, which is scheduled to finish the HHS Student Union Building in fall 2024.

“Over the past several decades, it has been an honor to partner with SBHSD as we have designed and planned for the future together. Additionally, our partnership with Blach Construction has been extremely successful and productive,” said Joe Vela, principal with Aedis Architects. “This project will finalize Hollister High School's Master Plan vision, adding an impressive capstone to the list of projects completed with Blach Construction. Located in the center of the campus, the new Student Union will not only provide food service, but also serve as a central hub with indoor and outdoor spaces for students to socialize, learn and feel safe, allowing them to fully thrive in their environment.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • 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