Project Updates

Building progress, building promise.

The planning process for construction, explained.

Planning and Community Engagement

Since 2024, Pinewood has engaged in a collaborative planning process with both the school community and the Town of Los Altos Hills, including planning staff, the Planning Commission, and other appointed committees. Early feedback from these groups helped meaningfully shape and strengthen the project.

Input from our neighbors has been equally important. Through one-on-one meetings, small group discussions, campus visits, and gatherings hosted in neighbors’ homes, we received thoughtful and largely positive feedback. This engagement played a key role in refining the project and ensuring it reflects shared priorities.

Project Application and Review

In February 2025, Pinewood submitted its formal project application to the Town. Following an initial round of detailed comments and requests for additional information, the project team submitted a revised application in June 2025 after several months of careful refinement.

Town staff subsequently completed a second review, confirming that the application was substantially complete—an important milestone that allowed the project to move forward into the formal review process.

Final Approval and Moving Forward

Pinewood has reached a historic milestone in the Upper Campus modernization project. In April 2026, The Los Altos Hills City Council voted unanimously to approve the project, including an additional enrollment increase of 75 high school students—securing the final municipal approval needed to move forward.

This achievement reflects years of thoughtful planning, collaboration with Town staff and leadership, and the meaningful engagement of our broader community. We are deeply grateful to the City Council and staff for their careful review and partnership throughout this process.

With approvals now in place, the project is advancing in alignment with the timeline previously shared. Pinewood has begun the process of identifying and selecting a construction partner to bring the vision for the new Upper Campus to life. This phase marks an important step toward construction and the realization of a campus designed to support future generations of students.

Take a look at how we plan to preserve the student experience during construction →

Assembling the Right Team

As we prepare for the Upper Campus Modernization, we are committed to approaching this next chapter with the same care and dedication. Our project team includes:

  • The architecture firm behind the 2016 Middle Campus renovation - CAW Architects, Inc. - has shaped impactful projects across Bay Area schools, higher-education institutions, and cultural facilities including the first two LEED Platinum K–12 public school buildings in the region, and a Net-Zero Energy Master Plan for a public high school in Oakland. Their notable work includes campus revitalizations at Stanford University and high-profile renovations like the Berkeley Community Theater.

  • Pre-construction consulting from the same general contractor who built Middle Campus, but are also experts in other public and private school modernization projects.

These partners understand the importance of maintaining excellence and safety while construction activities take place.

Next Steps

As we move forward, we are carefully evaluating the two operational approaches for the single academic year during which construction will take place:

  • Option 1: Remaining on campus with supplemental offsite activities. Learn more >

  • Option 2: Relocating school operations to a temporary offsite location. Learn more >

At every stage, Pinewood’s highest priority remains the student experience and the delivery of excellent teaching and learning. We are committed to creating a modernized Upper Campus that fully reflects the values, aspirations, and standards of Pinewood School, ensuring that our students continue to thrive during this important chapter in our history.