California High School Breaks Ground on New Student Union Building

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

  • Image courtesy of Armstrong International

    The Modern Hot Water System Approach to Keep Higher Education Buildings Safe and Operational

    Higher education campuses face unique structural and operational demands. With a range of old and new buildings, a variety of facility types, and ambitious sustainability goals, it's essential that no aspect of infrastructural performance is overlooked. Facility managers must be equipped to provide a safe, reliable and efficient space for students, faculty and guests.

  • Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

    The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

  • Austin International School Library Renovation

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Austin International School has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Allegion US Partners with Two Colleges for Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US recently announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campus-wide, according to a news release. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.

Digital Edition