Architect Foresees $13.3 Mil in Renovations at Castille

An architect for the Capistrano Unified School District has identified $13.3 million in renovations needed at Castille Elementary School.

More than half of that -- $7.4 million -- however, would be slated to replace half of the existing portable classrooms with permanent buildings. The number also includes $1.3 million in routine maintenance and repairs that have been put off, including new paint, fire alarm, heating and paving repairs.

The district hired an architect to produce a needs assessment in 2009, which has recently been updated for 2013 pricing. The district is facing $822 million worth of needs and only has about $44 million on hand to address them.

The updated total also includes $702,000 for upgraded technology for students.

Castille presents several problems. In terms of fire safety, firefighters do not have access to 17,130 square feet of building space on the campus, the fourth worst in the district, according to WLC Architects of Rancho Cucamonga.

The school also has one or more classrooms less than 960 square feet, which is the minimum size under California law.

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 expansion/remodel

4.    New toilets

5.    Multipurpose room expansion

6.    New building (six classrooms)

7.    New play surface area

8.    Fire truck turnaround

9.    New play area

10.  Americans with Disabilities Act upgrade

11.  New play equipment area

12.  New parking lot (56 stalls)

13.  New building (12 classrooms)

14.  Reconfigure interior walls

15.  Upgrade water piping

Find out the needs at other nearby schools:

• Bathgate Elementary
• Capistrano Valley High School
• Carl Hankey K-8
• Newhart Middle School
• Reilly Elementary
• Viejo Elementary