Information about Campus Construction
Saint Mark’s has embarked on an exciting building project that will improve the early childhood experience for our youngest students. On the south west corner of our campus, we are building a new building and playground for our preschool program. We are also renovating our basketball court. The project is expected to be complete in about 12 months.
We will update this page throughout the project to keep our families, neighbors and community members informed. Please check back regularly for information that may be especially helpful to our neighbors.
Contact Dan Wachtel, director of facilities, with any questions regarding construction. Contact Irene Mason, director of advancement, for more information about the project and ways to be involved.
Update as of January 5, 2024
We are excited to have broken ground on our preschool building and sports court over the winter break! A small group gathered to witness and celebrate the razing of the aftercare building, which marks the beginning of a new chapter of campus upgrades for Saint Mark’s.
The construction site is fenced off and construction work will occur primarily within the fenced area.
Please call Slater, 714-434-4887, should you have any construction-related concerns.
Update as of December 15, 2023
The week of December 18, 2023, we will begin construction of the preschool building and sports court. The following activities will take place:
• Installation of fencing around the perimeter of the construction site, construction trailer, restrooms, and access gate to adjacent construction parking
• Installation of temporary power poles on the school campus
• Demolition of the Meeting House/Extended Care building located by the field and basketball court
Demolition of the Meeting House building is expected to begin at 9:00 am on Thursday, December 21, 2023, and should be completed in a few hours. Removal of debris and excavation will continue for the next few weeks.
In general, construction is scheduled to take place Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Preschool Construction Frequently Asked Questions
Campaign donations are above and beyond the Annual Fund. Campaign contributions are restricted to the costs related to building Phase 1A of the campus master plan. Annual Fund donations fund current operating expenses. The Annual Fund remains the top fundraising priority.
We anticipate that construction of the preschool and renovations to the basketball court will take approximately one year to complete.
Yes! Be on the lookout for summer camp registration in early February 2024.
A majority of the field will be available for use for recess and PE. We have also created additional play space in Upper Maiden Lane, where students can participate in gaga ball, basketball, and other games. Kindergarteners will have access to the field and the preschool upper play yard, located immediately outside the kinder classrooms.
Students will continue to have access to the field, and we will use other areas on campus and classrooms for afterschool programs, study hall, and play. A more detailed Extended Care plan will be available in the new year.
We will use several parking spaces in our lot for the construction site. In order to mitigate the impact, we are renting the parking lot at the First Church of Christ, Scientist next door for the construction crew, as well as employees and visitors to campus. We will share a comprehensive overview of parking and traffic changes for the return to campus in January 2024.
We are working with Slater Builders, a construction company with experience building on school campuses. Construction workers will not have access to campus. They will remain within the fenced construction site and move between the Christian Science parking lot and the construction site only. The superintendent and a handful of other lead managers on the project, who have all been livescanned, will come to campus for scheduled meetings with the school’s administration.
The project is being funded by donations through The Campaign for Saint Mark’s, a joint fundraising initiative between the church and school. Tuition dollars will continue to fund school operations, and not be used for construction or other costs associated with building the new facility. Similarly, Annual Fund donations will continue to fund general operating expenses. Campaign donations are restricted to the project.
Please email [email protected] and continue to check this page for updates throughout the project.
- 626-798-8858
- 1050 East Altadena Drive Altadena, CA 91001