SUNNYVALE, CA — The Sunnyvale School District recently celebrated the completion of two new, two-story classroom buildings at Sunnyvale Middle School with a ribbon-cutting event for students, staff, and community members. The new seventh- and eighth-grade classroom wing is part of a larger modernization and new construction project on the campus, which was originally built in 1961. The buildings were designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA), in collaboration with LPA, Inc., and constructed by Blach Construction.
“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 Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Sunnyvale School District Superintendent. “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.”
Funded by Bond Measure GG, the 35,000-square-foot project adds 23 adaptable classrooms, five student breakout spaces, an art classroom, a dedicated teacher collaboration space, and a 23,000-square-foot landscaped outdoor courtyard to the campus. Prioritizing efficiency and quality, the district elected to utilize Folia, the proprietary prefabricated classroom building solution available exclusively through Blach, QKA, and GPLA, Inc. Structural Engineers and Builders.
“Through close collaboration and innovative choices like our prefabricated Folia system, our team was able to deliver Sunnyvale Middle School’s new classroom buildings on an accelerated schedule and within budget,” said Amber Emery, Project Executive at Blach Construction. “This project brings enduring and high-performance facilities to the campus that will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
Aligning with Sunnyvale School District’s environmental and sustainability goals, the new classroom wing is on track to be Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)-Designed certified (CHPS is now part of the U.S. Green Building Council). Site design by LPA incorporates bioretention basins to capture and filter stormwater runoff, reducing pollutants before they enter the ecosystem. This process is highlighted throughout campus with educational signage. The building placement shelters the courtyard, creating a protected space for student learning and gathering and taking advantage of the sun’s seasonal path. Additionally, solar panels provide renewable energy for the new facilities, further supporting the district’s desire to reduce carbon footprint.
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“We’re proud to have designed this project alongside our partners, bringing not only additional functionality to the campus, but also contributing to a positive learning atmosphere, " QKA President Aaron Jobson said. “Achieving the CHPS-Designed certification ensures a healthy and sustainable environment for students and staff."
“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 Denise Flatley, Senior Project Manager with LPA, Inc. “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.”
