Photo credit: iStockPhoto

Most school districts don’t think of themselves as real estate power players—but maybe they should. In this month’s issue of The B&D Perspective, our own in-house expert Al Grazioli—former head of real estate for Los Angeles Unified School District and a recognized leader in unlocking value from public sector assets—explores how districts can transform underused land and facilities into strategic tools for mission advancement. From repurposing surplus properties to breaking down operational silos, Al shares actionable strategies for moving from reactive management to proactive stewardship.

>> Click "Read more" for the full story.

Clockwise from top left: Manzanita Elementary, "NBA Cares Day" at East Oakland Pride Elementary, Esperanza-Korematsu Elementary shared campus. Photo credit: B&D

At three East Oakland elementary campuses, students are trading blacktop for garden beds, shaded seating, and nature-based play. Through Oakland Unified School District’s Living Schoolyards initiative, vibrant outdoor learning spaces are transforming East Oakland Pride, Manzanita Elementary, and the Esperanza/Korematsu campus—bringing climate-conscious design and student wellness to the forefront. As program manager, B&D is proud to help bring this vision to life.

>> Click "Read more" for the full story.

L-R: Al Grazioli, Jason Roberts (Upward Communities), Jeff Nydegger (Winstead PC), Stacy Kaplowitz (Lincoln Avenue Communities), Ty Taylor. Photo credit: Winstead PC, Ty Taylor.

B&D's own Al Grazioli and Ty Taylor recently participated in the U.S. Housing & Community Development Conference in Dallas, where they connected with industry leaders to highlight innovative workforce housing strategies. The pair hosted a booth and Grazioli spoke on a panel titled “Creating Long-term Partnerships for Workforce Housing,” sharing insights on how school districts and local governments can collaborate to address housing needs for educators and staff. The event reinforced B&D’s leadership in helping California PK-14 institutions plan for sustainable, community-centered housing solutions.

If you missed connecting with Al and Ty, reach out to them today by clicking below.

How can institutions leverage internal talent to lead sustainability efforts that go beyond emissions reduction? In the next episode of B&D’s Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast, we explore the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Climate Fellows Program—a groundbreaking initiative that's advancing climate action across the state’s 116 colleges.

Get a sneak peek of the episode above, and then watch on Tuesday, April 8—when it drops! You can watch at campusenergypodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 to The B&D Perspective, please click "unsubscribe" below.