For the first time in its nearly 60-year history, De Anza College will see major upgrades to its aging physical education complex with plans for a $53 million renovation expected to start next month.
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees on Monday approved a $4 million contract extension for tBP/Architecture Inc, the firm that created the original proposal, to move forward with planning and design. The project will be primarily funded by the state, which is covering 75% of the cost. The remaining funds will come from the district’s capital project reserves and Measure G bond funds.
The complex consists of six connected buildings which pose challenges relating to seismic safety, accessibility, hazardous material, and code compliance, according to the district’s proposal to the state. The complex has not had major upgrades since it was built in 1967.
The renovations will cover around 76,400 square feet of total space, including 54,400 square feet for physical education, 1,000 square feet for lectures, and 3,700 square feet reserved for offices, according to the proposal. The project does not include the pool area.
In addition to addressing safety issues, the renovations will upgrade infrastructure to allow for more technology use, including multi-media technology for high-flex and hybrid courses and automated equipment such as shooting and serving machines.
The renovations also will expand instructional space to decrease physical education enrollment waitlists and add infrastructure to allow for the installation of emergency lighting, lockdown systems, notification systems, and fire alarm systems.
Site work will be limited to areas within 15 feet of the buildings, with only minor improvements planned for nearby paths and parking.
The Board of Trustees did not respond to a request for comment about the project.
The project has been in the works for several years. The proposal was originally approved by the board in 2021 and received approval from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office in 2023. However, it remained unfunded until a statewide K-14 education bond measure passed in fall 2024, which allowed it to move forward.
The renovation is listed as a priority in the district’s five-year Capital Outlay Plan, adopted last month.
From August through December, the project team will hold regular meetings with stakeholders to gather input on instructional needs, according to the firm’s draft schedule. Preliminary plans and designs are expected to be finalized by the spring of 2027, with construction slated to begin in August 2027 and wrap up by August 2029.