San Jose Welcomes First Phase of Innovative New Campus

By Eric Althoff

SAN JOSE, Calif.—The Northern California Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) has opened the doors of both the Abram Agnew Elementary School and Dolores Huerta Middle School in San Jose. Architecture firm LPA designed both schools, which are both part of a larger effort to create an entire campus for grades K through 12 at one location. The Agnew and Huerta schools represent the first phase in that larger project.

Representatives of LPA, SCUSD and construction manager Swinerton were all present at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also in attendance were state Senator Bob Wieckowski, whose district includes the campus, as well activist Dolores Huerta, for whom the middle school is named.

“These schools are many years in the making, and we are honored to have collaborated with the district and Swinerton, our construction partner, to bring them to life,” David Eaves, studio director at LPA, said at the ribbon-cutting. “The campus will support the academic and social growth of students for generations.”

Added Huerta: “I know what all of us are thinking: I wish I could’ve gone to this school.”

Also speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was SCUSD Superintendent Dr. Stella M. Kemp, who said that the upgraded classrooms will “rival those of our neighbors in Silicon Valley.”

Students at the new schools will learn in an environment “where people collaborate, develop solutions to real-world problems…and develop the mindset and skills to be resilient and future leaders in our community,” Kemp said.

The 55-acre campus site will also include the to-be-built Kathleen MacDonald High School, which is anticipated to open for students in the fall of 2022.