California District Expands Arts Facilities, Student Services

Grossmont Union High School District in El Cajon, Calif., dedicated the new Student Support Services and Arts Classrooms Buildings on Sept. 28. Photo Credit: Grossmont Union High School District
Grossmont Union High School District in El Cajon, Calif., dedicated the new Student Support Services and Arts Classrooms Buildings on Sept. 28.
Photo Credit: Grossmont Union High School District

EL CAJON, Calif. — Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) announced the completion of construction on two new buildings on the campus of Grossmont High School in El Cajon. District leaders hosted a building dedication ceremony for the new Student Support Services and Arts Classrooms Buildings on Sept. 28.

The $10.9 million project involved the demolition of several outdated structures, including the original administration building, old auto shop, classroom building, student resource center, special education office buildings and other ancillary structures. This made way for a new two-story, 12,200-square-foot Student Support Services building, which consolidates various activities into a single location to enhance student-staff interaction, with a dramatic exterior that serves as the school’s main entry point. The school anticipates the development of a new Events Center to complete the other side of the gateway, which would be made possible with funds from Measure BB if passed by the voters in November.

The cleared site also houses the new two-story, 11,640-square-foot Arts Classroom Building, which was constructed to create new district standard instructional spaces for ceramics, metals, 2-D art, photography and digital arts. It also houses a general classroom, store and a special education classroom.

Construction on the two facilities spanned 15 months and was completed by EC Constructors of Lakeside, Calif., under the direction of construction manager Erickson-Hall Construction of Escondido, Calif. Sprotte Watson Architecture Planning of Vista, Calif., served as the project’s architect.

Extensive site work was necessary to provide new accessible pathways and additional parking as well as a revamped bus drop-off area, site lighting, security cameras and a new ADA restroom building to support the student population during the day and stadium events after hours.

The project was funded by Proposition U, which is budgeted at $601.7 million and includes a $417 million bond measure passed by voters in 2008 as well as $184.7 million in expected state funding and interest earnings. The bond is intended to support the modernization of district schools, and provide classrooms and equipment for Career Technical Education.

Established in 1920, Grossmont Union High School District encompasses an area of approximately 465 square miles and serves approximately 22,000 students. The district consists of nine comprehensive high schools, two charter schools, one continuation high school, two alternative education sites, four special education facilities, a middle college high school program, a Regional Occupational Program (ROP) and an adult education program.