O’Farrell Charter School Project Reaches Topping-Off Milestone

Soltek is excited to announce another successful topping-off ceremony, this time at O'Farrell Charter School, marking a significant achievement in the project's construction timeline of the new 12,500-square-foot, single-story student union building. The building will house the school's theater, chemistry and music classrooms, a weight room, offices, a student lounge, auxiliary rooms, and dressing rooms for the theater. This space will serve as a hub for the students, enhancing both academic and extracurricular activities on campus.

The project is scheduled for completion on October 6, 2025, and to date, has achieved a major safety milestone with zero lost-time accidents. The continued focus on safety and collaboration has been central to the project’s success, something Senior Superintendent Bob Williams attributes to the strong team dynamic.

“Our whole team is awesome, everyone works well together,” Williams said, reflecting on the team's progress over the summer.

Student Union Steel Frame Completed

This milestone was celebrated with a traditional topping-off ceremony, where the final steel beam was signed by members of Soltek, SILLMAN Architecture, school officials, and representatives from the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). The beam was then lifted into place, signaling the completion of the steel frame for the new Student Union Building. The ceremony highlighted the hard work of all involved and underscored the continued successful collaboration between Soltek and SILLMAN.

“The SILLMAN and Soltek team are really working well together at the O’Farrell campus, and I was really excited to see the Student Union Building finally take shape as the last piece of steel was set in place,” said Brett Tullis, Principal Architect at SILLMAN.

Historical Context and Future Commitment

O'Farrell Charter School, originally built in 1959, has a rich history of serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Over the years, the school has undergone several upgrades, with the new Student Union Building being the latest addition to enhance the learning environment.

The project is part of a Lease-Leaseback agreement with Soltek, who completed preconstruction services and earlier phases under separate contracts. The current phase represents the third Guaranteed Maximum Price award for Soltek, focusing on the construction of the Student Union Building.

As Soltek continues to make strides towards the completion of this project, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and teamwork.

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