photo by Robert Sanborn
Although many students are skeptical that the new building will be done when school starts, it is currently on schedule to be complete on August 20, 2018. The construction workers are currently working on the rooftop level, in addition to starting steel construction and working on the administration building. The building has stuck mostly to the original plans, although some changes have come from the city (including storm drains and sanitary drains) but these do not affect the design of the building.
One major addition is the solar panels in the main classroom building that will help the building achieve Net Zero Energy, meaning that the total amount of energy used annually is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created onsite.
There are about 80 construction workers, only two of which are women, from 20 different companies located all around California. One woman is an electrician and the other is an ironworker.
The new building will also have more spaces, called “breakout areas,” where students will be able to hang out and do homework. The area behind the current “handprint wall” will be turned into more courtyard space. There will also be an indoor breakout area with skylights and plenty of open space. Even though the old science wing is still intact, over the summer it will be fully gutted and redone after graduation. In the new science labs there will be two new fume hoods, new lab equipment, and new acoustic paneling. The entire corridor is also getting new wood paneling.
These are all exciting new features to look forward to for next year!
