California Middle School Completes Two New Academic Buildings

Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently announced that construction is complete on two new classroom buildings of two stories each, according to a district news release. The new wing will house seventh- and eighth-grade students and is part of a larger campus modernization project. Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and LPA, Inc., provided design services, while Blach Construction handled the build.

The two buildings add a total of 35,000 square feet, 23 adaptable classrooms, an art classroom, five student breakout spaces, a teacher collaboration area, and a 23,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard.

“I am grateful to our community for supporting our bond measures and making it possible to upgrade our school facilities. These improvements will directly enhance the learning experience for our students,” said Sunnyvale School District Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite. “I also want to thank our outstanding project team for staying on track with such an ambitious timeline. This allows us to make a meaningful difference for as many students as possible, as quickly as possible.”

The new wing is on track toward receiving a Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)-Designed certification. Design elements emphasizing sustainability include bioretention basins to capture and filter stormwater as well as solar panels as a source of renewable energy.

“Collaboration was key to bringing the stakeholders and design teams together to meet programmatic goals to deliver a project ready for students to start the school year,” said LPA, Inc., senior project manager Denise Flatley. “Locating the buildings to create a courtyard that connects to Spartan Square, leaving space for the future growth of the campus by utilizing two-story buildings, and emphasizing the need for interior and exterior learning space for the social and emotional growth of the students were our top priorities. The result is a student centric space we are excited to see students use daily.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Miami University Approves New $242M Multipurpose Arena

    Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently announced that its Board of Trustees has approved construction of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, according to university news. The $242-million project will serve as a new centralized hub for student life and create space for economic development on campus.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.