South Campus Update

As we await the final stage in the South Campus development process—project approval and groundbreaking—we reflect back on the years of effort that have gotten us to this exciting point. Literally thousands of our Head-Royce community members have helped us along the way: providing feedback on the plans, advocating at City Planning hearings, joining campus tours and offering essential philanthropic support.

At time of publication, the City has released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and set hearing dates to consider project approval. If received, the South Campus project includes:

Renovating and restoring three historic buildings, all intended for hands-on experiential learning and collaboration

Take a look back at our journey to the future.

Property Purchase

Purchased eight acres across from Head-Royce

Land Use Considerations

Developed Neighborhood Liaison Committee to strengthen partnership with neighbors

Created section of Head-Royce website and email campaign for neighbor communications

Updated conditions of approval

Fundraising Quiet Phase

Began major gift fundraising for $25 million campaign—the largest in School history

Design and Refine

Created and refined plans for educational spaces that address neighbor priorities related to process and transparency, enrollment, traffic and parking, noise and privacy and neighborhood character

Fundraising Public Phase

Launched public phase of fundraising campaign with the Day of Giving, raising over $800,000 in a single day, the most generous day in the School’s history

Offered South Campus tours

Final EIR and City Hearings

Release of FEIR by City City scheduled hearings to consider—and hopefully approve—South Campus project

Bringing vehicle drop offs and pick ups on to the campus with the addition of a Loop Driveway

Enhancing the outdoor space into an educational greenbelt with open-air classrooms, a teaching garden, a central commons area and a sizable playing field

Creating a new Performing Arts Center for music, dance and fine arts use

Increasing our enrollment by over 300 students over a 20-year period, also enabling us to expand scholarship opportunities to well-deserving students of all financial backgrounds

Stakeholder Input

Held dozens of meetings with neighbors, faculty, parents, alumni, students, donors and other stakeholders to solicit input

Created faculty workgroup and ongoing South Campus Plan Board workgroup

Architect Selection

Tapped the expertise of architects, city planners, land-use attorneys, financial planners, landscape designers, real estate developers and more

Site Assessment

Assessed views, traffic, stormwater, noise, building, trees and historical character

Proposal Submission

Estimated and refined costs

Possible South Campus Opening (anticipated fall 2024)

Draft EIR and City Hearings

Participated in hearings with the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board and Oakland City Planning Commission