Skip to main content
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

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • Fargo, N.D., Starts Construction on Consolidated Elementary School

    Fargo Public Schools in Fargo, N.D., recently announced the beginning of construction on a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with ICON Architectural Group and Kraus-Anderson Construction on the new Horace Mann Elementary School.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.