An iconic educational institution in National City will be celebrating a state-of-the-art building addition to its facilities.

    On Saturday, August 6, the Sweetwater Union High School District will unveil a new three-story classroom, library, theater, and student services building, at Sweetwater High School (SUHi), National City’s only high school.

    The event program and official ribbon cutting will begin at 4 p.m., and will feature special remarks by SUHi Principal Dr. Roman Del Rosario, Sweetwater Teacher of the Year Meg Garcia, school officials, and local dignitaries.

    The program is followed by a community celebration starting at 5 p.m. along Highland Avenue filled with fun, food, and musical entertainment.

    Over 1000 residents, students, alumni, and supporters are expected to attend.

    “I think this is a great celebration, a revalidation of the commitment the district has with children to learn and to have the opportunity that other communities have to be better,” said John McCann, Sweetwater Union High School Board President.

    The new facilities include a 87,000-square-foot, three-story building that houses the following: 34 classrooms equipped with wireless technology and interactive white boards; Student Services – Administration, Health Center, Counseling Center, Learning Center; Library; and a 200-seat theater.

    Some of the additional SUHi modernizations include a new one-story welding building with work shop, classroom and storage enclosure, and retrofit of existing concrete bleachers at football stadium.

    The building was designed to be LEED Platinum certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the green building features include high-efficiency lighting fixtures, wrap-around glass curtain wall that increases natural lighting and creates an improved working and learning environment, and high performance windows that improve student and teacher comfort, reduce unwanted noise, reduce drafts and provide a more consistent temperature throughout the building.

    “This is a state-of-the-art building with the latest technology and design, energy efficient, you name it, it is state-of-the-art,” McCann said. “This modernizes our facilities to give children in our district the opportunity to gain a great education to go to college. It is one of the finest buildings in the entire district.”

    He added that there are about nine repair and construction projects currently in progress throughout the district.

    The total estimated cost for Sweetwater High School campus modernizations is $50 million, which is part of Proposition O, a school classroom safety and repair measure addressing the critical and urgent needs of the 32 campuses.

    The new building at SUHi replaces a 92 year old building, McCann said.

    “Sweetwater High School has been the center of National City,” he said. “This new building is something for the entire community to celebrate. Almost everyone who grew up in National City went to Sweetwater.”