GTE Middle School opened its doors in the Fall of 2012 to 850 middle school students in grades 6-8. The 89,000 square foot project began in the summer of 2009 with a $45 million dollar construction budget. At the City’s request, the Long Beach Unified School District agreed to name the school after Signal Hill’s first mayor, Jessie Elwin Nelson.

Sticking to its green agenda, Pan-Pacific helped the project by using recycled construction materials and water conservation fixtures.  While schools are common on our resume, this school included some challenges including the oddly-shaped buildings (most were triangles) and the wood and steel construction.  Pan-Pacific is no stranger to challenges, however, and we finished the project on-time and within budget.

Students and the neighboring community will be able to make use of 31 classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, as well as the school’s outdoor facilities, which include a soccer field, five basketball courts and an open quad area with hardscape and landscape areas.