Big Changes Coming to CCHS Campus: New Building to be Completed by 2029
Rendering of the new building’s exterior released by CCHS.
Culver City High School has experienced its share of challenges concerning the quality of its campus. Established in 1951, many of the facilities are nearly as old as the school itself, and administrators have recognized the necessity for a more modern and updated campus. With the support of recent funding, this process is underway, and a new, high-quality building is set to be constructed in an area that is currently a parking lot in the coming years.
Thanks to Measure E—a small property tax increase that has provided funding to the Culver City School District for projects regarding the facilities of the elementary, middle, and high school campuses—the language classrooms in building 13 (rooms 40-69) will be demolished so the staff parking lot at CCHS, currently located by the music room, can be moved there, freeing up space for a new structure. It will stand three stories tall, a large upgrade from the majority of CCHS’ current buildings, the tallest of which are only two stories. The renderings, which can also be found on the CCHS website, also illustrate an internal design unlike any other at our high school. The 18 classrooms housed in the structure will incorporate design features that, according to notes attached to the renderings, are meant to nurture the growth of students. Details such as sliding glass walls and collaborative seating space will be meant to create an open, comfortable surrounding, while the nature-inspired colors will allow for a pleasant atmosphere.
Principal Dr. Adrienne Thomas-Malveaux, believes that the CCHS campus has been in need of a revamp like this for quite some time. “I would say that we need to renovate and modernize,” says Thomas, “I think our last renovation was putting air conditioning into the classrooms.” However, she believes that even more than practical updates, changes that will inspire more community between students are ultimately the most necessary and impactful. Thomas shares that, in addition to this project, she would like to see even more additions that she hopes will emphasize the Centaur identity, such as meaningful artwork showcased around the campus.
Luckily, the project is outlined to contain many of the features Thomas is looking for, even beyond the interior of the classrooms. The glass doors, that will be essential to the sense of togetherness within the building, will also allow teachers to take students outside of the classroom easily, into outdoor learning spaces in front. The plans for the renovation describe the features of this new area, including “built-in seating, shade, and landscape for student use and biofiltration.” These details will contribute to teachers’ abilities to create multifaceted learning experiences for their students, providing an avenue for more engaging instruction as they are able to be in different environments throughout the school day.
Rendering of the new building’s interior released by CCHS.
From the interior features of the upcoming building to the exterior areas that will complement it, the development of this structure has been meticulously planned to be something completely new for our aging high school campus. The construction is projected to begin in the spring of 2027, and will, according to Dr. Thomas, likely take around 18 months or less to complete. There are no other confirmed projects to take place during or after this time, but regardless of when new changes might happen, this first endeavor is definitely a significant step in the right direction. For our relatively old campus, a structure with such modern and thoughtful details will likely be a refreshing addition for both students and teachers to enjoy for many years to come.