Feasibility study flags structural, drainage and soil problems at Brea Olinda High athletic complex; full rebuild could cost $34M–$37M

A team led by PJHM Architects told the Brea Olinda Unified School District board the high school sports complex faces multiple structural and geotechnical issues that will require significant work and likely major funding.

Assistant Superintendent Rick Champion and PJHM summarized findings from an in‑depth facility assessment that identified ongoing settlement around the gymnasium and stadium, recurring cracking and movement at the six tennis courts, pooling and exposed reinforcing at the aquatic facility, deterioration of the track surface, and separation in concrete stadium seating that raises safety concerns.

"We found multiple areas of settlement that have to be addressed," the PJHM representative said, noting the campus sits on cut‑and‑fill terrain and some historical compaction records are missing. The team recommended exploratory geotechnical borings and a geologist'led investigation to define soil conditions before final design.

The consultants described three primary options for the pool/tennis area: a like‑for‑like replacement centered on a 25‑meter pool and modernized locker rooms; an expanded 40‑meter pool with reconfigured courts and expanded support facilities; and a full remove‑and‑replace alternative with new buildings and a 40‑meter pool. Preliminary cost estimates presented for the pool/tennis work ranged from about $17.5 million (option 1) to $19.5 million (option 2), with program‑level totals for all athletic projects around $34 million (25m pool option) to nearly $37 million (40m with new buildings).

Presenters said geotechnical mitigation (compaction, retaining structures or caissons) and path‑of‑travel accessibility upgrades would be required regardless of the option chosen. The team also noted data gaps in Division of State Architect (DSA) archives and past compaction testing; some original plans were reportedly lost in a DSA archive fire, leaving exploratory borings as a near‑term priority.

The district was advised to consider project synergies: combining stadium, pool, track and other site work reduces unit costs compared with an "a la carte" approach, but requires much larger upfront capital. PJHM identified potential state funding through the modernization program (presenters noted an eligibility figure of about $15 million) and the facility hardship application for health‑and‑safety priorities, but stressed that state match and bond timing are uncertain.

Next steps outlined to the board included targeted borings and geotechnical reporting, refined scopes and DSA plan development, and further cost refinement. Rick Champion told trustees the district must weigh funding strategies—local measures, state applications, or phased repairs—because the total program would exceed current local resources.

The board did not vote on a project at the meeting; presenters said the geotechnical work and design staging are the near‑term actions required before any formal financing or ballot measure decisions.