Leading general contractor C.W. Driver Companies has reached a major construction milestone, achieving topping out status on two high-profile education projects in Southern California — one at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and another at Roosevelt Elementary School.
The milestone marks the completion of structural steel installation on both projects, signaling significant progress toward delivery and reinforcing the firm’s continued presence in California’s K-12 modernization efforts.
Long Beach Polytechnic High School CTE Building Reaches Steel Topping Out
At Long Beach Polytechnic High School, C.W. Driver celebrated the steel topping out of a new three-story, 65,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) classroom building. The facility is designed to support diverse academic pathways and expand hands-on learning opportunities for students.
The new building will include:
- A medical simulation lab
- Engineering and computer science labs
- Robotics and automotive technology labs
- Standard and intensive studies classrooms
- Dedicated spaces for the school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC)
The project plays a critical role in the school’s broader $175 million campus modernization initiative that C.W. Driver is delivering over the coming years. The CTE facility aims to provide collaborative, career-focused education spaces that reflect current workforce and industry demands.
Designed by LPA, Inc., the building is expected to be completed by December 2027.
Beyond expanding physical space, the CTE project is intended to elevate student readiness for careers in healthcare, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and technology-driven industries. The integration of specialized labs reflects growing emphasis on workforce-aligned education across California’s public school systems.
Roosevelt Elementary Expansion in Santa Monica Advances
In Santa Monica, C.W. Driver is delivering a $30 million classroom and library expansion at Roosevelt Elementary School.
The project includes:
- A new 5,000-square-foot library designed to enhance literacy and collaborative learning
- Seven new classrooms totaling 1,350 square feet for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students
- A 1,600-square-foot teacher workshop and storage facility
The expansion is tailored to improve early childhood learning environments while also providing faculty with dedicated support space. The new library will serve as a central hub for student literacy development, reading programs, and small-group instruction.
The project is expected to reach completion by the end of 2026.
With transitional kindergarten enrollment increasing statewide, the additional classroom capacity supports California’s broader push to expand access to early education and reduce class sizes in foundational learning years.
Driver SPG Celebrates 15 Years of Specialized Project Delivery
In addition to the topping out milestones, C.W. Driver Companies marked the 15th anniversary of its Driver Special Projects Group (Driver SPG), an affiliate division focused on tenant improvements, renovations, and specialized developments.
Over the past decade and a half, Driver SPG has supported a range of notable projects, including work for LBA Realty and the Rinker Health Science Campus Center at Chapman University.
The group has played a key role in expanding C.W. Driver’s portfolio beyond ground-up construction into complex renovations and adaptive reuse projects across education, commercial, and institutional sectors.
Expanding Educational Infrastructure Across Southern California
The two topping out milestones underscore C.W. Driver’s continued investment in educational infrastructure throughout Southern California. As districts modernize aging campuses and prioritize STEM, healthcare, and career-focused programs, contractors with specialized K-12 experience are increasingly critical to delivering facilities that meet evolving academic and workforce needs.
With both projects progressing on schedule, the company continues to strengthen its presence in one of the nation’s most active education construction markets.
Originally reported by C.W. Driver Companies.
