East Union High School Transformation

Manteca, CA

Equal parts new construction and renovation, this project completely transformed a 58-year-old campus into a rejuvenated, collegiate-level facility. Chief among the changes is a new two-story building complete with media center, 29 classrooms, student store, and large gathering staircase. Additional improvements included a new front entrance and parking lot, student quad and courtyard, and auxiliary gym dedicated to a long-time East Union High School coach. Taken all together, the project set up the school to support an additional 800 students.

The building’s location within the existing campus was carefully chosen and allowed for the creation of multiple quad spaces complete with outdoor learning areas, a stage, and multiple custom shade structures. Hidden underneath the eye-catching gathering staircase is the student store, which required some creative structural and waterproofing solutions.

The structural system of the new building comprises ordinary steel concentric braced frames with concrete fill over metal deck. Engineering the dramatic rooftop canopy and double-cantilevered corner was particularly challenging and required exacting detailing to keep deflection in check and achieve the architecturally desired depth-of-profile. Detailed drawings were also needed for the post-installed perforated aluminum panels that have become a signature feature of Manteca USD campuses.