The El Segundo Unified School District held a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 3, 2022, to kick off construction of the all-new, 17,524-square-foot gymnasium and multi-use building for El Segundo Middle School.
The El Segundo Unified School District held a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 3, 2022, to kick off construction of the all-new, 17,524-square-foot gymnasium and multi-use building for El Segundo Middle School (ESMS). When completed, the gymnasium will be the first new building constructed at ESUSD in nearly 20 years.
“This middle school gymnasium project was a twinkle in the eye of ESUSD board of education members decades before us, since ESMS is one of the last intermediate schools in our region (if not the very last) to add such a facility,” said ESUSD Board of Education President Tracey Miller-Zarneke. “But the size of previous bonds simply could not cover such a large construction project. I want to offer our gratitude for all the conversations and work that led us to today, including all the research and surveys to understand what the latest and greatest long-range facilities master plans should encompass, wherein this was once again a top priority. Much attention and planning went into this project to understand its scope and how this structure could be built for maximum efficiency and longevity to best serve the middle school and the greater community.”
The scope of this $19 million project will include the gymnasium, two classrooms for the PE program, boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, storage space, and a raised outdoor platform on the south side facing the new adjacent courtyard for performances/presentations and other student activities. To alleviate parking congestion, this project also includes an expanded parking lot along Center Street with 29 additional parking spaces for staff and visitors, and improved drop-off and pick-up traffic flow. There will be flexibility to use the new outdoor courts on the north side of campus for overflow parking during the rare occasion of large events.
“This gym project will provide a dedicated area for PE and ESMS will once again have fully functional locker rooms,” said El Segundo Middle School Principal Adam Wright. “However, this facility is not just an athletic facility, it will benefit our students and families by providing a location for assemblies, performances, dances, and athletic competitions. ESMS does not have a space large enough to accommodate all 800 students at once. Now we will.”
ESUSD values green space and the development of this construction project examined different design iterations with the goal of maximizing usable green space. The net reduction of field space is 19 percent, regardless of the gym’s location within available space on campus. The green space currently on the northwest side of campus will be transferred to the southeast side of campus. Adequate green space will remain for current wildlife use, and ESUSD plans to consider other areas to promote green spaces, landscaping, and gardens.
From a sustainability and efficiency standpoint, the building design includes infrastructure for solar panels and future energy savings. Other features include water bottle filling stations and water saving fixtures. There will also be a water run-off treatment system and bio swale. There will be no dedicated outdoor lighting for activities, but rather timer-controlled lighting in the parking lot and around the building envelope per code for safety. Lighting will be placed to avoid direct impact on the neighbors.
“I extend a sincere thank you to our community for coming together for the successful passage of Measure ES,” said ESUSD Superintendent Melissa Moore in her closing statements at the groundbreaking ceremony of this milestone project. “YOU have made this all possible! Thank you to ESUSD employees, board members, community leaders, and most importantly to the voters of the City of El Segundo, for your support of our students at the El Segundo Unified School District!”
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