Construction projects at Lynbrook on the 200s buildings and Robotics Maker’s Space move forward as students and staff adapt to the changes. Renovations of the 400s building and fields are planned for the coming years.
100s and 200s Wing
Construction began on campus in 2022 with the goals of modernization and improved safety. At the time, Lynbrook’s classrooms accommodated fewer students than classrooms in other FUHSD schools, inspiring the administration to enlarge them. However, with rising enrollment, , the district had to choose between adding more classrooms to other schools or renovating Lynbrook’s classrooms.
“It was ultimately about who needed it most,” Assistant Principal Tara Grande said. “The community’s support was what propelled the renovations at Lynbrook.“
Over the summer, walkways were replaced with new concrete and additional outdoor seating for students was added around the 100s wing and library. Fences around the area were removed, freeing up the narrow paths that caused walking congestion last semester.
“It was a lot harder to move around campus and get to classes on time,” sophomore Uma Gebbie said. “I’m looking forward to being able to go anywhere on campus.”
English teachers moved into the finished 100s building the week of Aug. 4, having packed up their old classrooms in the 200s wing before the previous academic year ended. The modernized 100s wing consists of an office, prep room and two fewer classrooms than the original building, allowing the remaining ten English classrooms to become larger than before. The added space may allow teachers to experiment with new seating arrangements and student activities.
“There’s a reading corner so the kids can feel more relaxed,” English teacher Jane Gilmore said. “My goal is for them to be comfortable enough to talk and share with one another.”
English teacher Connie Willson moved from Room 214 to Room 107, which features two projectors and new furniture. Willson had been in the same classroom for over 17 years before moving.
“My old room was quite small and had three doors, so it was hard to position the furniture,” Willson said. “Aside from more space, I have two projectors and the sound is much better.”
In the renovated 100s building, the classrooms have large windows that let in natural light, a new HVAC system for heating and cooling, LED lights and new furniture. There is a modernized lighting system that adjusts to the amount of daylight received, conserving energy.
“I think as a whole the renovations have been beneficial, but seeing all of the trees cut down around campus was sad,” senior Chaaruhaas Kandregula said. “The area in front of the library used to have seating with lots of shade.”
Following the renovation of the 100s wing, updates on the 200s wing began at the start of the school year. The building is set to be finished by the end of the first semester for English, math and special education teachers to move in during December break.
Robotics Maker’s Space
The old Voyager buildings were demolished over the summer in preparation for the construction of a new building called the Maker’s Space for the robotics team. The construction will begin in September and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The team, known as the Funky Monkeys, spent the last 14 years moving between rooms on campus to accommodate its members. The Maker’s Space is designed solely for the robotics team to use as their workshop, storage, and practice area. Because of its unique purpose, the building required a lengthy design process.
“There is a lot of time spent going and back and forth with the robotics team,” Grande said. “Asking questions about the kind of equipment they have, down to details like how many outlets, is necessary to make sure all of their needs for the space are met.”
The Funky Monkeys aim to use two locations, the Maker’s Space and an additional classroom for lunch meetings, instead of the four rooms usually at maximum capacity. Room 612, a portable classroom, is the team’s current storage room and workspace. The new shop inside the Maker’s Space will be around 1.5 times larger.
“Based on availability of rooms, the club’s location is always changing, meaning that we have to set up a new space to practice driving the robot every time,” robotics adviser David Giandomenico said. “During competitions, every item on the playing field has an exact position, so our situation is just not conducive to consistent practice.”
Apart from a larger space, the new building offers a solid floor to support heavy machinery more than the fragile base of the portables.
“The Maker’s Space is a huge deal for us,” robotics co-president Kush Goel said. “We’re really thankful because it is a chance to think more about the future of the team without being limited by space and location.”
Sports Fields
Lynbrook’s Stober field and football field will also undergo renovation after 15 years of use. The small rubber pellets, used as infill within the turf, will be replaced next summer with natural crushed shells, which are biodegradable and contain less harmful chemicals. Infill acts as a weight to hold the turf down. Underneath the turf, shock absorbing cushioning known as Brock Pads will be installed for impact absorption.
“I broke my arm last year playing soccer,” junior Dale Liu said. “I think the padding would benefit the soccer team in terms of injury prevention.”
Stober field construction is expected to begin before the 2026 graduation in hopes that it will be ready by the 2026 fall sports season. Meanwhile, the football field will be left to use for graduation, with construction starting shortly after students are released for the summer.
“We’re hoping to time it so we start at the end of the spring season and finish in time for football and field hockey in the fall,” Grande said. “We don’t have that schedule finalized yet.”
The school is tentatively expecting these construction projects to finish by the end of 2026. The remaining wings around campus are also expected to be renovated by this time. During the second semester of this year, the 400s wing will be renovated in the same way as the 100s wing, with two classrooms taken out and the others expanded. The 500 and 600 wings will follow.
“There is going to be a lot more coming, so students can look forward to a fully modernized campus,” Principal Janice Chen said.
