Swinerton Celebrates Groundbreaking for Crown Point Junior Music Academy’s Modernization Project

Alongside San Diego Unified School District, Studio WC, and community members, Swinerton celebrated a significant groundbreaking milestone for the Crown Point Junior Music Academy Whole Site Modernization project on May 12, 2023. 

“Swinerton is honored to play a vital role in the journey of Crown Point Junior Music Academy. We are deeply enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute our expertise and passion to this remarkable project,” says Andre Melancon, Senior Project Manager at Swinerton. 

For 75 years, Crown Point Junior Music Academy has been a cherished cornerstone of the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, CA, nurturing a love for music and education. The Whole Site Modernization encompasses a range of enhancements to the facilities. One notable improvement is the construction of a kindergarten building spanning 3,133 square feet which will replace an outdated portable structure. The new, modern building will offer students contemporary classrooms with a collaborative learning environment and cutting-edge technology. The other five existing buildings, totaling 37,722 square feet, are also undergoing improvements. This includes transforming the student services office into a music center and maker space, complete with practice rooms and new instruments. 

With priority placed on student safety, the project involves reconfiguring the main campus entryway to enhance security, as well as installing new security cameras, an emergency communications system, and perimeter fencing. These measures will provide a secure environment for all individuals on school grounds. In recognition of the value of collaboration and team-building, the project will also revitalize the outdoor spaces with new play structures and shade shelters for students to enjoy. Parents and guardians will appreciate enhanced parking facilities and designated drop-off and pick-up areas. 

Swinerton Preconstruction Manager Simon Pollard and Superintendent Dave Ramsey took an immersive approach to ensure constructability and value engineering during the preconstruction phase. The duo conducted thorough reviews by spending days onsite with detailed drawings, meticulously evaluating each building. This diligent effort yielded remarkable results and identified several opportunities to enhance the project. 

Pollard and Ramsey also discovered that the existing underground conduit for primary power and data could be repurposed for the new kindergarten building, avoiding the need for new trenching and conduit installation. These discoveries kept the project within the original budget and optimized the schedule.  

Melancon says, “As Swinerton brings this vision to life, we are driven by the belief that education can transform lives. With each construction step, we erect walls and construct a nurturing haven where knowledge and dreams intertwine. Crown Point Elementary School represents a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come, and we are thrilled to be a part of this transformative endeavor.”