Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/18/26

Key Takeaways

  • Santa Rosa City Schools completed a new 16,000-square-foot classroom building at Piner High School to accommodate seventh- and eighth-grade students as the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School.
  • The two-story facility includes 11 academic classrooms, a dedicated science classroom, support spaces, gender-neutral restrooms, and an outdoor learning courtyard, with an emphasis on natural light and indoor air quality.
  • Using a design-build approach and the pre-checked Folia classroom system, QKA and Blach Construction completed the project’s design and construction in just 15 months.

Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the project’s design and Blach Construction for construction, according to a news release.

The new, two-story building measures 16,000 square feet and features eleven academic classrooms, dedicated science classroom, support spaces, gender-neutral restrooms, and an outdoor learning courtyard. It was designed with features like natural light and indoor air quality in mind.

“The successful completion of this facility is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our district leadership, dedicated faculty members, and our project team,” said Monica Thomas, district superintendent. “This building does more than provide space; it creates a home for our new junior high students and ensures a smooth, positive transition for our entire Piner High School community.”

The design and construction team used a design-build delivery process and a proprietary classroom building solution called Folia. According to the news release, “Created in partnership with Blach, QKA, and GPLA, Inc. Structural Engineers and Builders, the Division of State Architect (DSA) pre-checked design provides modern, sustainable, and flexible learning environments with an accelerated approval process.” Design and construction were completed in 15 months.

“Seeing this project come to life is incredibly rewarding,” said QKA President and CEO Aaron Jobson. “By leveraging the efficiency of the Folia system, we were able to provide the Piner High School community with a high-performing, future-ready environment that supports its long-term educational goals.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Amazon Expands Lockers to More Than 500 College, University Campuses

    Amazon recently announced that its Locker Network now totals more than 750 locations at more than 500 college and university campuses around the United States, according to a company news release.