Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility. The district partnered with C.W. Driver Companies on the project, which cost an estimated $102 million.

The new building has the capacity for 600 students. Amenities include multipurpose spaces, project-based learning facilities, visual and performing arts classrooms, special education classrooms, STEM classrooms, a cafeteria, library, administrative office, and additional services, according to the news release.

“The development of Malibu High School’s new core building was a great opportunity to build an interdisciplinary learning environment for students to be able to excel in all subjects,” said Dave Amundson, C.W. Driver project executive. “It helped us provide another wonderful learning facility for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s needs, so they can focus on supporting their students.”

According to the news release, C.W. Driver demolished nine existing buildings and implemented 30 concrete walls with unique mixes that prioritized sustainability. Natural materials from the nearby Santa Monica Mountains helped the project achieve California Title 24 certification and the ability to meet Net Zero standards.

“It was such a pleasure working with C.W. Driver to build a campus that suits all students' needs while providing a hands-on learning experience in all subjects,” said Carey Upton, Santa Monica-Malibu USD’s Chief Operations Officer. “An interdisciplinary campus like this will be a stepping stone for future campuses as the learning experience continues to become more experiential.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • 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.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.