January 26, 2026
Studio Design Group is pleased to announce the start of a new project with San Luis Obispo Classical Academy (SLOCA): the relocation and consolidation of the school into a permanent campus at 3450 Broad Street in San Luis Obispo.
Following unanimous approval by the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission, the project marks a major milestone for SLOCA, its families, and the broader Central Coast community. After years of operating across multiple leased locations—and more than a decade searching for a permanent home—the school is now moving forward with a campus designed to support its long-term mission. Local coverage of the approval highlights the significance of the project and the path ahead. Read more here →
Move-in is anticipated ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
About San Luis Obispo Classical Academy
San Luis Obispo Classical Academy was founded in 2005 by Lisa Lewis and Susie Theule, who shared a vision for an educational environment rooted in curiosity, character, and a lifelong love of learning. The school opened with just 27 students and a handful of home-based classrooms.
Over the past twenty years, SLOCA has grown into a respected educational option serving infants through K–8 students, with families traveling from across the Central Coast to be part of its community. The school emphasizes a classical approach to education—reading great books, asking meaningful questions, and encouraging students to think deeply and independently.
At its core, SLOCA believes education is not simply a means to an end, but a worthy pursuit in itself. One that is life-enriching, life-preparing, and life-giving. Learn more about the school’s mission and programs at sloclassical.org.
Project Overview: A Consolidated Campus
The new SLOCA campus will be located at 3450 Broad Street, within the former Acacia Creek Business Park. The project consolidates three existing SLOCA locations into a single, unified campus:
- K–8 classrooms
- Preschool and infant care facilities
- Administrative offices
The existing commercial building encompasses approximately 52,000 square feet. Interior improvements and select additions—including a gym, gym lobby, and a library mezzanine—will add roughly 4,300 square feet, resulting in a total of approximately 56,300 square feet.
The campus is designed to accommodate up to approximately 372 students on site at any one time, supporting both full-time, in-person instruction and a hybrid learning model.
Design Approach and Planning Strategy
The project centers on adaptive reuse, transforming an existing office building into a flexible and functional educational environment. Interior tenant improvements will create classrooms, learning commons, preschool and infant rooms, administrative spaces, and meeting areas tailored to SLOCA’s program needs.
Exterior improvements are intentionally modest, focusing on a refreshed façade, new paint, and lightened awnings to improve daylighting within classrooms.
A major component of the design is the reimagining of outdoor space. The former north parking lot will be converted into an outdoor field and play area, with additional outdoor classroom decks, seating areas, and extensive new landscaping. While approximately 20 existing trees will be removed to make room for these spaces, the plan includes the planting of 45 new trees throughout the site.
Site Challenges and Planning Considerations
Time is a significant constraint for the project, with the expectation that the school will be operational in the fall. In addition, approximately 20 percent of the building has remained occupied during early phases of construction, requiring careful coordination as an existing tenant transitions out of the space.
The project has also required substantial structural upgrades to adapt the existing steel-framed office building to the requirements of a school facility. These improvements include added plates and haunches to meet current educational occupancy standards.
Transportation and safety planning played a key role in the approval process. Conditions include a detailed pickup and drop-off plan, off-site pedestrian and bicycle improvements, transportation impact fees, and a one-year monitoring program to evaluate traffic operations once the campus is occupied.
Additional approvals included a Conditional Use Permit for school and daycare use, a Planned Development amendment to allow educational use on a site previously designated for office use, and a tree removal and replacement plan. Full details of the Planning Commission’s approval and conditions are available here: View the staff report and approval summary →
The SDG Team and Collaborative Process
The project is being led by Tim Ronda as Principal Architect, with Corey Templeton serving as Project Manager. Interior design and architectural collaboration is provided by Design Architect Bryan Ridley of Bracket Architecture, supporting the development of learning environments that align with SLOCA’s educational mission.
SDG’s team is currently coordinating permit revisions with the City, working through contractor submittals and RFIs, and aligning new steel shop drawings with existing conditions.
SDG has previously worked with San Luis Obispo Classical Academy on other projects, including the SLOCA High School at the corner of Santa Rosa and Higuera Streets. Lessons from that project are informing the current work, with shared interior language helping establish continuity between campuses.
The City of San Luis Obispo has been an active partner throughout the process, recognizing the importance of child care and education as a community priority and working collaboratively with the project team to move the project forward.
Looking Ahead
As the project progresses through construction, the new Broad Street campus will provide SLOCA with a permanent home. One designed to support its educational philosophy, strengthen community connections, and serve students and families for years to come.
← Back