Schools

Photos: New SAMOHI Discovery Building Unveiled

As construction continues in the next phase, the newest Santa Monica High School Discovery Building is open in Santa Monica. Take a look.

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School board members, district leadership, Samohi administration and dignitaries cut the ribbon at the new Santa Monica High School Discovery Building in Santa Monica, Calif. on Dec. 7, 2021.
School board members, district leadership, Samohi administration and dignitaries cut the ribbon at the new Santa Monica High School Discovery Building in Santa Monica, Calif. on Dec. 7, 2021. (Courtesy of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District)

SANTA MONICA, CA — The new Santa Monica High School Discovery Building debuted in Santa Monica this month with local dignitaries and leaders arriving for a special ribbon-cutting event.

The Dec. 7 event included a brief program, choir performance from Samohi choir and tours around the new building, which includes 28 new classrooms, 288 parking spaces and an Olympic-sized pool. It also has an indoor-outdoor cafeteria and rooftop classrooms.

Santa Monica High School Discovery Building
Gail Pinsker, SMMUSD PIO, Santa Monica Councilmember and Samohi alumni, Phil Brock, Samohi Principal Dr. Antonio Shelton pose for a selfie during the opening of the SAMOHI Discovery Building. (SMMUSD)

The building cost $133 million and opened in August for the start of the school year, Santa Monica Daily Press reports. The next phase of construction, Phase 3 - set for $112 million - is scheduled to begin in fall 2023. These projects were both funded through Measure SMS, which voters approved in 2018 and delivered $485 million in bonds to complete the work.

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SAMOHI Discovery Building
Samohi choir leading guests in the Hymn of Praise following the ribbon cutting. (SMMUSD)

In fall 2023, the district plans to reveal the Exploration Building and Gold Gym, the next part of the ongoing construction.

Santa Monica High School Discovery Building
Sen. Ben Allen, also a Samohi alumni and current Santa Monica resident, speaks at the opening event for the new SAMOHI Discovery Building. (Courtesy of the SMMUSD)

Allen this week thanked locals for donating to the toy drive in time for the holidays, thanking students and staff for helping out.

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