The vision for Yerba Buena High School’s Student Union was to create a “paradigm change” to unite students, staff and administrators in human-centered environments that create a hub for academic, social and community inspiration. That vision was achieved with this 37,150-square-foot build that houses several different user groups and includes a full kitchen, server administration, counseling, records, library, student union, a bank, classrooms and a fitness center. The building is the center of an outdoor quad improvement that created a central hub for campus life. The student union and quad transformation is the new heart of the YBHS campus in a community where 77% of district residents live below poverty level.
Design-Build Breathes Life into the Campus Community
Yerba Buena High School (YBHS) Student Union was one of the first K-12 design-build projects in California, the first design-build project for the East Side Union High School District and has become a model for future projects. One challenge was not only to provide the best design solution for the campus, but to do so in a collaborative manner that brought together the District and a design-build team of thought leaders and experts in their professions. The structured process throughout design and construction helped the team remain focused on value, and the commitment level to a school that is seen as a beacon in the community rang through time and again throughout construction. Through a collaborative design-build journey, the team leveraged the existing facility assets and, through the transformation and a new construction addition, created open, transparent and flexible spaces that bring students, staff and administrators together to share cross cultural experiences. The new facility is a game changer for YBHS students and the community, which rallied to support its design and construction.
Design-Build Team
| Client/Owner: | East Side Union High School District |
| Design-Build Firm: | Flint Builders, Inc. |
| General Contractor: | Flint Builders, Inc. |
| Architect: | MFDB Architects, Inc. | JK Architecture + Engineering |
| Engineer: | Buehler Engineering Inc. |
| Project Manager: | Flint Builders, Inc. |
| Construction Duration: | 22 Months |
| Project Cost: | $19,080,732.00 |
Photo Credit: Travis M. Turner Photography