Board approves San Antonio campus schematic design and authorizes design‑build amendment for early work

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the schematic design for the San Antonio campus and authorized Amendment No.1 to the district's design‑build agreement so the design‑build team may proceed with geotechnical borings, early procurement and additional design services.

The design‑build team (architects San Kumar, Nick Stephenson and Aaron Johnson; Block Construction's Amber Emery) reviewed an updated site plan showing four classroom buildings with a mix of first- and second-floor classrooms, a multipurpose building, gym/field house and outdoor courtyards. The presentation included a detailed restroom distribution map and discussed options for multi‑occupant gender‑neutral restrooms and possible second‑floor connections to improve circulation. The architects said restroom placement and the potential to convert some staff restrooms to single‑occupancy accessible fixtures would be reviewed in design development.

Trustees raised accessibility and supervision concerns, especially for second‑floor restroom access for younger grades and for special education services; the design team said those issues will be refined during design development. Trustees also asked the team to explore landscape screening and glazing treatments to reduce street distractions.

Budget and procurement

The design‑build team presented an updated schematic estimate of roughly $117 million (this figure included a schematic estimate and an escalation allowance to midpoint of construction). The presentation included a set of alternates—a connecting bridge between second floors, a fieldhouse/storage building and locker rooms—and noted that some alternates would be presented later as deductive change orders if the board chose to remove them to control cost. The team recommended early procurement of long‑lead equipment to reduce escalation risk.

Board action

Trustee Vladimir moved and Trustee Stella seconded approval of the final schematic design. The motion passed unanimously. The board then approved Amendment No.1 to the design‑build agreement (not‑to‑exceed schematic estimate) to permit early borings, investigations and early procurement. Staff said a future Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) will be presented after design development and DSA submittal; the amendment approved at this meeting authorizes additional design work and early site investigation, not construction.

What trustees asked staff to do next

Trustees directed staff and the design‑build team to: gather more input from principals and special‑education staff on second‑floor program placement; study the gender‑neutral restroom options and supervision implications; refine landscape screening options for the street edge; and report back with design‑development cost updates and any requested alternates ahead of GMP and DSA submission.