Modernization Program is Complete

Coinciding with the renaming of the former Olympic High School campus as the Michelle and Barack Obama Center for Inquiry and Exploration, the district has completed its two-year modernization program. This campus continues to house Olympic High School, an independent study program, Off Campus Learning Center and the Adult School, while this modernization project creates space for the new personalized project-based learning cohort. The multi-year project, similar to other schools, received bond-funded improvements to make for 21st-century learning. The project includes:

• All but four rooms on campus were upgraded with new flooring, windows, paint and doors.
• A visitor-management badge system, which rapidly verifies campus visitors, improving campus safety was installed.
• A new fire alarm system was installed that complies with modern code and includes voice evacuation commands, to improve  emergency response.
• Heating and air-conditioning systems were updated.
• Shade structures were created in outdoor areas.
• Sports courts were improved and some were added, including pickleball.
• New gutters and downspouts were installed to better direct rain away from buildings.
• New, flexible-use furniture and equipment was installed.
• New signage reflecting the name change and directing visitors around campus was installed.
• More benches were installed on the Ocean Park side of the building.
• Complete modernization of library and media center, computer lab, science lab, auditorium and music lab.
• Noise-reducing acoustical panels were installed in the library and auditorium.
• Improved landscaping. We upgraded exterior areas with new planter beds, large planters and new concrete edging to make the overall campus more inviting.
• The district finished installing earthquake valves on natural-gas supply lines earlier this year to bolster campus safety. These valves automatically shut off if a large enough seismic event is detected, reducing the risk of fire.

Building Futures
Fall 2022

Building Futures Archives
Fall 2019

Project Overview
Olympic High School