Architect: Las Palmas Needs an $11.9 Mil Makeover

One of the older schools in the Capistrano Unified School District, Las Palmas Elementary School is in need of $11.9 million in renovations, according to a district architect.

The district commissioned a survey of all modernization needs in 2009. The report was recently updated for 2013 pricing. In all, the district is facing $822 million worth of needs and only has about $44 million on hand to address them.

Of the $11.9 million Las Palmas needs, half would be used to replace half the school’s portable classrooms with permanent buildings. Another $682,000 would address routine repairs and maintenance the district has deferred over the years, including floor covering, roofing, paving and fencing.

The 2013 figures also include $828,000 to buy the latest technology for students at the San Clemente campus.

Among the issues at Las Palmas is firefighter access. In the event of an emergency, firefighters cannot get to 7,964 square feet of building space.

Below is an easier-to-read legend for the photo above. New construction, which originally included replacing all the portables, is in peach, remodels in yellow.  

1.    Administration remodel

2.    New administration expansion

3.    Library/media center remodel

4.    New toilets

5.    New kindergarten (two classrooms)

6.    New two-story building (18 classrooms)

7.    Kitchen remodel/expansion

8.    New fire truck turnaround

9.    New play area

10.  Americans with Disabilities Act upgrade

11.  New play equipment area

12.  New parking lot layout (79 stalls)

13.  New multipurpose building

14.  Kindergarten remodel

15.  New storage

16.  Field renovation

17.  Restore original architectural façade

18.  New courtyard

19.  Classroom remodel

20.  New turf area

21.  New play surface

Find out what is needed at nearby schools:

• Bernice Ayer Middle School
• Truman Benedict Elementary
• Concordia Elementary
• Lobo Elementary
• Marblehead Elementary
• Palisades Elementary
• San Clemente High
• Shorecliffs Middle School
• Vista Del Mar Middle and Elementary schools