C.W. Driver completes Temporary Pali HS campus following CA fires

 C.W. Driver Companies, a premier California builder specializing in educational and community facilities, announced the completion of a restoration and transformation of the former Sears department store in downtown Santa Monica into a temporary campus for Palisades Charter High School (PCHS). This fast-tracked project provides a safe, fully equipped learning environment for approximately 2,500 PCHS students just three months after the Palisades wildfires devastated the school’s Pacific Palisades campus.  The new campus is a testament to the resilience of the PCHS community and underscores C.W. Driver’s commitment to rebuilding Southern California communities impacted by the 2025 Palisades Fire.

“Watching the wildfires that swept through Southern California left me feeling helpless, unsure of how I could make a difference. That changed one Friday evening when I received an unexpected call asking if C.W. Driver would be interested in helping get the students of Palisades Charter High School back into classrooms,” said Jamie Macartney, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies. “Reuniting PCHS students and staff under one roof and restoring a sense of normalcy has been an honor for our team. Supporting community recovery is at the heart of C.W. Driver’s mission, and we’re proud to stand with Palisades Charter High as they rebound and rebuild.” 

“It has been an honor to work alongside CW Driver, the City of Santa Monica, and the Pali High team to bring this vision to life,” said Kelly Farrell, Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Los Angeles office. “For our team, this was more than just a project — it was a meaningful opportunity to support the students, families, educators, and administrators of Pali High. Pali High South stands as a powerful case study in what’s possible when institutions, cities, designers, and builders come together around a shared mission.” 

C.W. Driver Companies has a robust legacy of delivering transformative educational spaces. This includes projects such as modernizations for Chino Valley USD at Ayala and Don Lugo High School’s, ten elementary schools and the new K-8 Legacy Academy school campus for the district; Santa Monica-Malibu USD – New Malibu High School, Phase 1 and Roosevelt Elementary School – TK/K New Classrooms & Library; Menifee Union SD  – Sally Buselt Elementary School, Kathryn Newport Middle School Phase 2 and Menifee Valley Middle School Reconstruction; San Diego USD’s La Jolla Elementary School, John Muir Language Academy, and Darnall Charter School Whole Site Modernizations, in addition to the new K-5 technology-oriented Nipaquay Elementary School, San Dieguito UHSD’s Torrey Pines High School, Aquatic Center and Athletic Facilities, Torrey Pines HS Modernization & New Digital Arts Building and Pacific Trails Middle School, Granada Hills Charter’s New TK-8 School Facility, Irvine USD’s New Solis Park K-8 School and Flintridge Preparatory School Bachmann Collaboration Building, and Brentwood School Saltair West Annex and Parking Garage. The completion of the PCHS temporary site reinforces the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in educational construction.

About C.W. Driver Companies

Feature Image Courtesy of: CW Driver, Gensler