Digging a Hole Was Just the Beginning: Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Building Construction

Amid the fanfare of the Viking Marching Band, members of the Samo community gathered Tuesday, April 2, to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Discovery Building. The structure will be home to an Olympic sized pool, new engineering classrooms, a full district kitchen and student cafeteria and parking, among other .Though a massive hole at the site of the new construction has been a part of the Samohi panorama since the November, construction on other projects like the Olympic Spur and updates to the electrical and data banks and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) have taken precedence.  And though some of these projects remain ongoing, during spring break, workers will begin installing the shoring for the Discovery building, according to Samo admin.At the ceremony, Samo Principal Dr. Antonio Shelton spoke to the audience of excited students and parents, including the members of the aquatic program and SMMUSD board members, explaining the impact the new building will have on student life. “This is an exciting day, and I am just as excited to see the future of our campus growing. This is a turning point at Samo,” Shelton said.  The ceremony concluded when a group of high-profile community members, including Samo ASB president Ryan Chien (’19) and SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati, grabbed shovels and sank them into the dirt. Drati marked the occasion with words of gratitude for the continued support of the Santa Monica community.“What a great, joyful moment! To the Board of Education, to all of the students here, to everyone who worked to support education, thank you. Our community, and our school’s future, is due to all of you,” Drati said.