A rendering of the anticipated new classroom building at PaliHi

A new PaliHi classroom building, baseball field, and restored track and field are moving through the district’s design process this summer.

If everything goes smoothly, construction would being in early 2027 and finish two years later at the end of 2028, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District, which presented some of the details at an online Design Update Community Meeting on Aug. 11. The LAUSD board approved the project in June, and $266 million in bond funds are designated for the upgrade and expansion with reimbursement being pursued through insurance and FEMA.

The new classroom building is expected to house 21 general classrooms, one science lab, one engineering classroom, one media and filmmaking classroom, one multimedia computer technology classroom, two special education classrooms, plus collaboration spaces, workrooms, and storage, according to the presentation. In addition, 13 faculty/staff offices, an IEP office, conference rooms, clerical areas, restrooms, and a reception are planned. solar panels and an urban rain garden are planned for the roof.

The Palisades Academy will also be provided three classrooms and three offices in a separate space.

As part of the preparatory process, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed debris from the school grounds, and the soil was tested by TRC Solutions, Inc. for volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 22 heavy metals, including mercury, dioxins, asbestos, organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphyenyls. The test report from May 28 can be found here.

One hillside had slightly elevated arsenic and lead levels of 12.4 mg/kg and 81.6 mg/kg respectively, according to the report. The expected background level for the area is 12 mg/kg for arsenic and 80 mg/kg for lead. None of the other toxins were measured at levels that exceeded Environmental Protection Agency and Cali. Department of Toxic Substance Control screening levels.

The report’s summary said, “Based on the results of this soil investigation, perimeter soils at the Palisades Charter High School are unlikely to pose a risk to human health.”

A final design community meeting will be held this fall, and construction bids will be fielded once the design process has been completed.

Photos from LAUSD’s presentation, including a timeline, renderings, and maps, are below: