Demolition discord: the uncertain future of the History Building
By Jadyn Miyahira, Staff Writer
SMMUSD plans to demolish Samo’s History Building next summer in accordance with the school’s campus plan. Because of the structure’s 107 year history, petitions and complaints about the district's decision have arisen.
Due to several factors noted by the district, the History Building is insufficient to serve the Samo community much longer, and for the past eight years, there have been plans about demolishing it. In a recent news release from the district, it listed the reasons why this building is more harmful than helpful. For example, it was mentioned that the classroom sizes are too small, the quality of the building is not adequate enough and it was not made for a modern education system.
“The classrooms were designed for a different era,” principal Antonio Shelton said.
The inauguration of Samo occurred in 1891. In 1912, the school sought a new campus and transitioned to the same spot where the school stands today. Samo was composed of nothing but one structure—the History Building. As the 20th century passed by, constructions such as the English Building, the Greek Amphitheater and Barnum Hall were completed and Samo gradually transformed into the school that current students are familiar with.
Because of the History Building’s longstanding history, some are not in agreement with the district’s decision of demolition. It was observed in the news release, for example, that this issue has gotten the attention of the Santa Monica Conservancy, an organization aimed to preserve the architectural history of the city. Similarly, a petition has been started to save the building. If this petition does end up delaying the demolition, it would be a great financial loss for the district due to the eight years of planning that went into it.
“People are asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars to now look at how to save this building when our design has been developed,” Shelton said.
Because the district plans to remove the History Building, the classrooms housed in it will be migrated into the Discovery Building, which plans to be available for the 2021-2022 school year. On sections of land upon which the History Building stands, SMMUSD plans to construct the future Exploration Building, which will hold programs such as visual and media arts, engineering and government.
One teacher who currently inhabits the History Building is math teacher Kelly Okla. After 17 years of residence in this building, he has grown remarkably attached to his classroom.
“I have taught roughly 2,800 students in that room. It’s been an amazing place to teach. A lot of learning and a lot of laughing has taken place there. I hope my classroom in Discovery has as beautiful a view and holds as many amazing learning moments and joy as H210 does,” Okla said.
Several students, such as Sarah Salloway (’21), have reported feelings of ambiguity about the History Building’s demolition. Salloway expressed that she supports the preservation of the building for its historical value, but does feel that its current condition is problematic. Another student, Kayla Lewis-Koury (’21), actually spoke at a school board meeting, vocalizing the building’s need to adapt to people with disabilities, and to be easier to navigate.
On Nov. 5, Nina Fresco, a member of the Santa Monica Conservancy, made a statement at a school board meeting arguing for the adaptive reuse of the History Building rather than its demolition. She added that the protection of buildings like this will provide Samo students with a greater cultural and historical awareness.
“A school district that embraces [historic preservation] provides invaluable lessons for students,” Fresco said.
The History Building, ironically, has a long history of its own and the district’s plan to demolish it has become a controversial topic not just for the Samo community, but for the entire city. Whether or not groups such as the Santa Monica Conservancy will impact the campus plan is unforeseeable, but from memos issued by SMMUSD, the district seems confident that the demolition of the building is necessary.
“I am part of the [Santa Monica] Conservancy...I understand history. I was a history teacher. I believe in saving what can be saved. But that’s one building that does not need to be saved,” Shelton said.
