Village School Begins Construction on New Foundations
Construction crews are now laying foundations for the school's campuses following destruction by the Palisades Fire.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Primary Education
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Village School began pouring concrete for new building foundations on October 6, 2026, as part of the effort to replace campuses lost to the Palisades Fire. The school currently operates out of a temporary location at the Colorado Center in Santa Monica.
Why it matters
The progress represents a significant step in rebuilding the school's infrastructure after the disaster. The project aims to restore permanent facilities for the students after their relocation.
Construction on the new foundations officially commenced on October 6. The school, which was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, is slated for a full reopening in January 2028.
The players
Village School
This is a private educational institution that is currently operating out of a temporary facility in Santa Monica following the destruction of its permanent campuses.
Gensler
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm that the school has partnered with to manage the redesign of its new campus facilities.
The details
Following the demolition of debris that began in July 2026, crews are now retrofitting underground parking and installing new utilities. The school has collaborated with the architecture firm Gensler to facilitate a complete reimagining of the interior spaces for the new facilities.
Timeline
Demolition work on both school campuses began in July 2026.
Contractors began pouring concrete for the new foundations on October 6, 2026.
The school campuses are currently scheduled to reopen in January 2028.
Culture Shift
The school's reconstruction follows the path set by the Palisades Fire, which necessitated a massive overhaul of local educational facilities. This project highlights the transition from emergency relocation back toward permanent, modern institutional spaces.
Students and families currently commuting to the temporary Colorado Center location can expect to continue there until the planned 2028 reopening. The ongoing construction work may influence local traffic patterns near the Swarthmore Avenue and La Cruz Drive sites.
The takeaway
The move to pour concrete foundations signals a major transition from debris clearance to active site development. Families should continue to plan for the school's temporary operations until the permanent facilities are ready in early 2028.
What happens next
The school is scheduled to reopen its permanent campuses in January 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about the ongoing developments within the Primary Education sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Palisadian-Post.
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