The new event center spans 15,000 square feet and includes 250 retractable seats. Photo Credit: Mike Torrey Photography

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C.W. Driver Wraps High School Events Center in California

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LAKESIDE, Calif. – C.W. Driver Companies recently completed construction on the new $10.7 million, 15,000-square-foot event center for Grossmont Union High School District’s (UHSD) El Capitan High School. Consisting of two buildings on the campus’ south side, the facility adds much-needed band, drama and dance space and acts as a gathering area for the school’s more than 1,600 students.

Located at 10410 Ashwood St. on a site that previously housed tennis courts, the new event space features 250 retractable seats to accommodate theater productions, band performances and other events, as well as a lobby, concession and snack bar, storage space, AV room, green room and restrooms. Additional spaces include a drama classroom, band and orchestra suite and dance studio. Communications, janitorial and electrical rooms are also included onsite.

“It was a pleasure to partner with El Capitan High School to create a multifunctional events center that serves as a new focal point for the campus,” said Hank Withaar, vice president at C.W. Driver Companies. “We leveraged our extensive K-12 experience to build a facility that will serve students well and benefit the school’s performing arts programs for years to come.”

Nodding to the region’s iconic sycamore trees, the design incorporates the trees in the landscaping and reflects the lines and angles of the surrounding mountain range. El Capitan High School celebrates a 60-year history serving the educational needs of the Lakeside community.

C.W. Driver Companies partnered with Dena Johnson, project manager at Grossmont UHSD, and architect HED to bring the project to fruition. In addition to Withaar, the C.W. Driver team included Sam Myovich, senior project manager; Carrie Chambers, assistant project manager; Dan Howell, superintendent and Scott Blemker, superintendent.

This project is the latest addition to C.W. Driver Companies’ extensive portfolio of K-12 projects, encompassing more than 120 projects for 22 school districts throughout Southern California.

C.W. Driver Companies is a premier builder serving California since 1919. As a leader in general contracting and construction management services, C.W. Driver Companies is on the cutting edge across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, commercial/office, technology, healthcare/biomedical, mixed-use, assisted living, entertainment, retail, industrial and civic.