issue 9, Vol. 2, September 2025

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Photos credit: B&D

Ribbon-cutting marks milestone for San Jose school

Hillbrook School celebrates the opening of historic Moir building

A historic 19th-century building in downtown San Jose has been transformed into a vibrant new school space, as Hillbrook School cut the ribbon on the renovated Moir Building on Aug. 23, just in time to welcome students back to school. Hillbrook, a Los Gatos, Calif. school serving students from junior kindergarten through 12th grade, is expanding its high school program into the heart of the city, embracing its vision of “the city as a classroom.” B&D was proud to serve as project manager for this milestone, which blends history, sustainability, and innovation. Click below for the full story.

PERSPECTIVE

Photo credit: Adobe Stock

California schools' looming clean energy deadlines

State mandates on transition to zero-emission fleets and facilities are almost here

California school districts and community colleges face firm deadlines: AB 579 requires all new school buses purchased after 2035 to be zero-emission, the Advanced Clean Fleets rule mandates 100% zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle purchases by 2027, and SB 100 commits the state to 100% clean electricity by 2045. In this month’s B&D Perspective, our own experts David Karlsgodt and Al Grazioli share strategies to help leaders move from compliance to opportunity by using pilots, partnerships, and asset optimization to protect budgets and deliver healthier campuses. Click "Read more" for the full essay.

PODCAST ALERT: Migrating your fleet to all-electric

Dropping on Tue., Sept. 16, the next episode of B&D’s Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast, "Charging Ahead: Financing and Powering Resilient All-Electric School Bus Fleets," is essential listening for school leaders facing clean energy deadlines. Jason Washington of Prince George’s County (Md.) Public Schools discusses what it takes to migrate your fleet to all-electric—from financing and infrastructure to community impact. 👉 Click below for more info.

Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast

The B&D Perspective addresses the most pressing issues facing PK-14 facility planning and implementation in California. It is published monthly by Brailsford & Dunlavey, one of the country's leading development advisory and program management firms in the PK-14 sector. To learn more, go to california.bdconnect.com. To view our job openings, go to bdconnect.com/careers. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, click "unsubscribe" below.