Donald M. Cleland A History of the Santa Monica Schools 1876-1951, Santa Monica Unified School District, February 1952 (Copied for the Santa Monica Library, July 22, 1963). 140 pp., 1950
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A new shop wing was added at the Santa Monica High School during 1949-1950, to provide more adequate space for the auto mechanics program. The addition was designed by Marsh, Smith and Powell, Los Angeles architects, and was constructed by the firm of Roy Beck & Sons at a cost of $18,800. This was the first new construction at the high school since the completion of Barnum Hall in 1938. [18. Board Minutes, Mar. 28, 1949.]
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The results of the preliminary study were consolidated in a set of specifications called Design Standards for the New Santa Monica City College Buildings. Upon approval of the design standards by the Board of Education, the specifications were given to the architects to complete the plans as specified. Director Johnson worked in close cooperation with the firm and the plans which finally emerged were considered most satisfactory.
The plans for the first group of buildings, about one-half the total needed for the City College, were ready for Board approval in June of 1950. Subsequently, bids were advertised and a contract let in August, 1950, for the construction of the administration building, the main classroom building, library, student activities building, speech arts building, art building, and music building. The total cost of seven buildings, including site improvements, approximated $1,200,000. [82. Johnson, op. cit., p. 67.]
The City College was, at last, assured of a permanent home. Ground was broken on September 11, 1950, for the construction of the first seven buildings. These are to be of reinforced concrete construction and of contemporary modern design. Off-street parking facilities will be provided for approximately 500 automobiles.
President Sandmeyer expressed his pleasure in at last having a college that will provide adequate educational opportunities for students on the junior college level and one in which the entire community can be proud:
"There had been so many plans made involving the moving of bungalows and the construction of less permanent buildings that in 1949, when plans were finally approved for the construction of a real city college plant, I knew that Santa Monica would have a City College campus second to none in California. [83. Personal interview with Elmer C. Sandmeyer, May 22, 1951; Santa Monica, California.]
But a half-finished City College could not fulfill President Sandmeyer's expectation, and to complete the college plant required funds. Thus, the Board of Education, upon recommendation of Superintendent Briscoe, authorized a survey of the population, enrollment trends, and school building needs throughout the district, realizing that the submitting of another bond issue to the voters was inevitable. [84. Board Minutes, April 10, 1950.] From the results of the survey, the board determined the needs of the district at all levels to be nearly $5,000,000 for land acquisition, buildings, and improvements. The bond issue was submitted to the voters in November of 1950, and met with their approval. As a result, City College will receive additional facilities through the construction of a large science building, a gymnasium, a cafeteria-homemaking building, an auditorium, and further additions to the music and art buildings. [85. Ibid., Sept. 11, 1950.]