LAKESIDE, CA — C.W. Driver Companies, a builder celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, has completed construction on the new $10.7-million, 15,000-square-foot event center for Grossmont Union High School District’s (UHSD) El Capitan High School. Consisting of two buildings on the campus’ south side, the facility adds band, drama and dance space and acts as a gathering area for the school’s more than 1,600 students.

Located on a site that previously housed tennis courts, the new event space features 250 retractable seats to accommodate theater productions, band performances and other events, as well as a lobby, concession and snack bar, storage space, AV room, green room and restrooms. Additional spaces include a drama classroom, band and orchestra suite and dance studio. Communications, janitorial and electrical rooms are also included onsite.

“It was a pleasure to partner with El Capitan High School to create a multifunctional events center that serves as a new focal point for the campus,” said Hank Withaar, Vice President at C.W. Driver Companies. “We leveraged our extensive K-12 experience to build a facility that will serve students well and benefit the school’s performing arts programs for years to come.”

Nodding to the region’s iconic sycamore trees, the design incorporates the trees in the landscaping and reflects the lines and angles of the surrounding mountain range. El Capitan High School celebrates a 60-year history serving the educational needs of the Lakeside community.

C.W. Driver Companies partnered with Dena Johnson, Project Manager at Grossmont UHSD, and architect Harley Ellis Devereaux to bring the project to fruition. In addition to Withaar, the C.W. Driver team included Sam Myovich, Senior Project Manager; Carrie Chambers, Assistant Project Manager; Dan Howell, Superintendent; and Scott Blemker, Superintendent.

This project is the latest addition to C.W. Driver Companies’ portfolio of K-12 projects, encompassing more than 120 projects for 22 school districts throughout Southern California.