Construction is underway and progressing quickly on Studio E’s new campus for Albert Einstein Academy Charter Middle School in the San Diego neighborhood of Grant Hill. The project, which we previewed for you last year, will reinvent a dreary 4-story convalescent hospital into an innovative urban charter school for the Albert Einstein Academy (AEA) students.
Studio E’s John Sheehan and Maxine Ward were on hand for a recent ceremony, in which AEA staff, parents, and students gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking with gold shovels and speeches from AEA’s executive director David Sciarretta, board president William Melton and then-Interim Mayor Todd Gloria.
The 40,000 square foot building stands in the shadow of Grant Hill Park and enjoys sweeping views of the Coronado Bridge and the downtown San Diego skyline. Existing balconies will be hung with perforated metal scrims that allow sun and breezes through while creating safe outdoor learning annexes to the adjoining rooms. The reimagined interior will provide some 20 classrooms, 3 communal work areas, a media center, gallery, lunch servery, and physical education spaces for students – as well as improved administrative, office, and conference spaces for AEA staff. Extensive site improvements will include a new play yard, parking areas, and kid-friendly landscaping.
Demolition complete and contruction underway: Albert Einstein Academy Charter Middle School
The new campus, scheduled to open in September, will enable AEA to offer an additional 100 openings at AEA’s middle school and 75 openings at the elementary school for the 2014-2015 school year. Stay tuned to this space for more updates as construction progresses!