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Del Mar is
the oldest of the finger plan schools owned by the District.
Built in 1957, it has a genuine historic flavor. The
site includes stands of tall redwoods and mature landscaping
that make it feel like an old established school. The
wings include veneer bricks that were manufactured at
an adjacent brickyard (now gone). In fact , Larry Hill,
the superintendent at the time of construction, made
an arrangement with the local brickyard to purchase “clinker” bricks
at reduced pricing for use at many of the new schools
being built. These bricks are seen at all of the district
campuses except Blackford. |
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Del
Mar includes the best components of the finger plan
schools: the main quad, individual courtyards for
the classroom wings and a clear organization and
sense of place. The football bowl is one of the most
attractive settings in the District.
Del Mar also includes some
of the more substantial interiors in the classroom:
real wood paneling and
wood windows add to the character of the buildings.
Like most campuses in the District, the basic buildings
were built well and have extensive life left in them.
The finishes are worn and need updating, but the
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basic
campus includes many of the amenities that are
sought after in new high schools being built
today.
As
the LTFIP has progressed, much care has been taken
to respect and extend the architectural qualities
of the original buildings. The architects have used
brick materials and patterns that mimic the original
forms and have used basic planning approaches that
not only provide new and improved facilities, but
support the creation of a coordinated composition
in the overall site.
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