BIS Gym Construction Has Begun! →

It might not look like a lot, but much work has already been completed.  

Many of the existing utilities transfer through the old gym to other parts of campus. During the summer of 2021, the contractor detached and rerouted the gas, water, and telecommunication lines ensuring that all services would be up and running for the first day of school.

Summer break also allowed for the safe demolition of the existing building and building pad preparation. On the first day of school, students noticed the missing building and new construction fence.

At the beginning of the year, the foundation was dug, rebar laid, and concrete poured. Alten Construction did an excellent job coordinating over 100 concrete truck deliveries to the center of campus while keeping students safe and school activities functioning as usual. Over 800 cubic yards of concrete were delivered - the equivalent of approximately 10 backyard swimming pools.

Are you wondering what comes next?

The site is about to get very exciting. The structural steel is going to be delivered in the next month. And erectors will begin bolting and welding the steel together. Students and Staff will see the physical form of the building for the very first time. 

Hopefully, the campus can begin to imagine how this new building will: benefit physical education, welcome guests to the campus, connect to the community through parks and recreation, and enhance student movement around and through the center of campus.

All construction projects have their challenges and this one is no exception. For example, this project faces; construction in the center of an existing and active campus; construction with additional COVID requirements; and construction during a global supply chain crisis. One thing that can counteract those challenges is a good contractor. Alten Construction has gone above and beyond in its planning and execution for this project to prevent unnecessary delays and guarantee that the District gets the building they expect.

We are delighted to continue working with the District and Alten Construction to see the completion of this project and hope the campus enjoys the final building.

Burlingame Intermediate School – Classroom Modernization

Building a classroom modernization during COVID was a challenge, but with a great client and contractor, Burlingame Intermediate School got a much-needed modernization, its first major renovation since it was originally constructed in 1953.

Design of the project was complete before the pandemic, through a planning process including students and community members. The project had a simple program – modernize twenty classrooms and solve accessibility along a steep hillside connecting five classroom buildings. We embraced the accessibility challenge as a form-generator to dramatically change the exterior environment and provide new outdoor learning spaces. To improve wayfinding, we developed a concept of the campus as a point within the local environment, fostering environmental awareness in students and the school community. Each building displays part of an educational exhibit with immersive graphics depicting ecozones along a transect from the ocean to the San Francisco Bay.

Kudos to our construction partner, Alten Construction, who completed the work on time and on budget despite supply chain delays and work restrictions. And thank you to our client, Burlingame School District, for believing in our vision of transforming old buildings into new, engaging classrooms!

If you missed our presentation at the AIASF Committee on Architecture for Education, here is a recording of it. Enjoy!

tinyurl.com/6bsw99fj

Sustainable School Design: How Hamilton + Aitken Architects Maximize Natural Light Using Vectorworks

“When we started out, our goal was to change the world, to do something that would really make a difference to the lives of people,” said Chad Hamilton, AIA LEED AP BD+C, Principal Architect of Hamilton + Aitken Architects (H+AA). “And education is one of the things that really determines how people live the rest of their lives. “So, for us it’s just a wonderful feeling, to improve kids’ educational spaces.”

Whether working on schools, civic buildings, higher education, or other projects, the award-winning, San Francisco-based firm focuses on how each of these buildings will be used to enhance and enrich the lives of others.

Sustainable design also plays a major role in the projects H+AA undertakes. One of their most recent projects was the renovation for the Burlingame Intermediate School, south of San Francisco. The new additions support this school district’s concept for delivering education and resolves the physical challenges of a sprawling campus.

Read the complete article and watch the video at –