School board approves proposal for CdM library renovation

The school board approved an agreement Tuesday night to move forward with design services for Corona del Mar High School’s new learning resource center.

The campus library will be remodeled into the new facility.

Corona del Mar Principal Kathy Scott and an associate from Newport Beach-based Saunders + Waint Architects presented a conceptual drawing for the proposed center at the board meeting.

The drawing depicted a 120-chair facility that includes a multimedia classroom, lounge areas, small conference rooms and a repair desk for technology information. The center will be designed to incorporate different technology and multimedia concepts.

“Remodeling the library to a learning resource center will create a collaborative atmosphere, which is better suited for today’s learning environment,” Scott said in a statement.

Plans for the latest center have been in the works for around two years, according to the CdM High School Foundation.

During that time, the foundation and Newport-Mesa trustee Karen Yelsey paid a visit to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana to view its learning center. The visit helped the group draw ideas for their plans.

Saunders + Waint Architects was selected to develop the center’s preliminary designs and construction documents.

During the meeting, the board accepted the foundation’s donation of $60,000 to go toward design concepts for the new facility.

Costs for the remodeling project are estimated at $400,000. According to a release, the foundation has pledged to secure funds once plans are finalized.

A project start date has not been announced.