C.W. Driver Companies, a premier builder serving California since 1919, today announced the completion of a 90,000 square-foot expansion of Granada Hills Charter, one of the largest public charter schools in the U.S. The new campus, located a mile from the high school, has allowed the school to broaden its curriculum to offer transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, with plans to increase its student body capacity from 4,700 to 6,000 by 2023.
Built on a former school site, the project included the demolition of nine buildings, installation of interim portable classroom buildings, and the construction of three new buildings. At the campus’ front entrance, a single-story building houses the administration offices, a multi-purpose room for cafeteria or auditorium use, and a media classroom. Elementary and middle-school lessons will take place in a new three-story academics building that includes 48 classrooms. Another single-story building features a full-service kitchen and locker room facilities, and an existing building was renovated to include kindergarten restrooms. New outdoor spaces include a lighted sports field with running track, two basketball courts, and additional parking and pick up/drop off areas.
“By leveraging decades of academic construction experience, C.W. Driver Companies has successfully built a high-quality educational environment tailored to Granada Hills Charter’s diverse academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings,” said John Kately, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies. “Years in the making, the modern campus enables Granada Hills Charter to provide families and children with continuity in education for all grades up until high school graduation.”
Granada Hills Charter, located at 10535 Zelzah, Ave. in Granada Hills, first opened in 1960 and was converted into an independent charter school in 2003. The expansion is located at 17081 Devonshire St. in Northridge on a site purchased in 2014 with the intention of building a campus for elementary and middle-school students. First year enrollment began in fall 2019 with 384 spots for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, as well as first and sixth grades. The site is also home to the high school’s iGranada independent study academic program.
“With the expertise of C.W. Driver Companies, we are now able to broaden our comprehensive academic, arts, athletics and social programming to reach over 27% more students in grades TK-8 by 2023,” said Brian Bauer, executive director at Granada Hills Charter. “This 21st-century facility provides an enhanced student-centric experience that will prepare our students for a future they envision and own.”
C.W. Driver Companies partnered PBK-WLC Architects, Inc. on the project. Additional C.W. Driver Companies K-12 projects include the modernization of La Jolla Elementary School and John Muir Language Academy for San Diego Unified School District; Measure G Modernizations for Howard Cattle Elementary School and Rolling Ridge Elementary School in Chino Valley Unified School District; new construction and modernization for Solis Park School, Woodbridge High School Performing Arts Center and Springbrook Elementary School in Irvine Unified School District, among others.