San Pablo, Calif., Mar. 13, 2023 – West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a campus replacement project at Lake Elementary School. Replacing outdated and undersized school buildings which no longer support the school’s educational goals or larger community needs, a comprehensive new campus will introduce next generation classroom and auxiliary spaces for nearly 500 students in grades transitional kindergarten (TK) through sixth. The project is a collaborative effort on behalf of design-build partners Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Alten Construction Inc.

“We are thrilled to see our community and faculty vision come to fruition,” said Dr. Chris Hurst WCCUSD superintendent. “We have long sought a campus that enhances Lake Elementary School’s educational programs, supports the needs of the community and will be a source of pride for students, parents and staff. We are grateful to partner closely with our project team, whose guidance and expert knowledge has been instrumental in navigating complexities while remaining on budget.”

The new campus will be marked by a welcoming front entrance housing administrative services and the library, which has been designed to accommodate community events after school hours. Grades first through third and fourth through sixth will be clustered within learning suites, allowing individual classrooms to open to a large shared open space that can easily adapt to suit different curricular needs. TK and kindergarten classrooms, set apart from the other grade levels, will share outdoor gathering and play areas. At the heart of campus, the multi-purpose building will provide food service, indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a venue for gathering and performances. Campus buildings and playgrounds are connected efficiently by a “main street” thoroughfare.

“We’ve collaborated closely with the district to cultivate an entirely reimagined Lake Elementary School campus – one that will support and advance the school’s needs beyond that of the classroom walls,” said John Dybczak, QKA principal and CFO. “Our trusted design-build partnership with Alten Construction was invaluable as we navigated the serious challenges associated with demolishing and rebuilding a school campus while prioritizing safety and uninterrupted learning throughout the process.”

With sustainable construction and operation in mind, the project incorporates several green features, including a cool roof and architectural finishes with high levels of recycled content. Inside, energy efficient mechanical equipment, LED lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures with automatic shutoffs ensure long-term sustainable and cost-effective building operation. Outside, drought tolerant landscaping, synthetic turf play fields and ample shade over outdoor eating and playground areas mitigate excess water use.

“The Lake Elementary School project, from design to the start of construction, has been a seamless process due to the combined effort of WCCUSD and the project team,” said Bob Alten, president & CEO of Alten Construction, Inc. “Our team has worked hard to mitigate the cost escalation challenges that the construction industry has endured over the past several years to ensure the success of the project and save the taxpayers money.”

Developed in two increments, the project is expected to complete summer 2025.

About West Contra Costa Unified School District

Established in 1965, West Contra Costa Unified School District covers the cities of El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, and Hercules and the unincorporated areas of Bayview-Montalvin Manor, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, North Richmond, and Tara Hills. It is our mission is to provide the highest quality education to enable all students to make positive life choices, strengthen our community, and successfully participate in a diverse and global society.

About Quattrocchi Kwok Architects

QKA provides comprehensive master planning and design services for K-12 and higher education, historic renovation and community facilities in Northern California. With more than $2.5 billion in projects completed in its 36-year history, QKA’s award-winning portfolio reflects a commitment to design that emphasizes environmental sustainability and community impact. Building Design + Construction has recognized QKA as one of the nation’s top K-12 and BIM (building information modeling) architecture firms. Engineering News-Record has called it one of America’s top design firms. Majority employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), QKA continually lands on the North Bay Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” list. Visit qka.com to learn more.

About Alten Construction Inc.

Alten Construction is a general contractor specializing in public works and educational facilities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for the past 28 years. Alten has solid experience in lease-leaseback and design-build delivery methods, CHPS, and LEED, and also self-performs their own framing and concrete work.

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