San Mateo High School - Campus

Campus

The school moved twice in 1903 and then to Baldwin Avenue in 1911 before moving to its present location on Delaware Street in 1927. The original, brick-dominated complex, was sometimes referred to as "the high school that looks like a university."

Efforts to improve the school’s educational facilities, while preserving its unique heritage, are ongoing. The school’s excellent Visual and Performing Arts Department shares its beautiful Performing Arts Center with county-wide performing arts groups. The Performing Arts Center, which was built in the 1950s, seats approximately 1600 people and is the premier performing arts facility in the county. The smaller Flex Theatre was built with District and Drama Booster funds in 1993. As of Fall 2011, the Performing Arts Center is undergoing total renovation for $25 million dollars which is estimated to be completed by mid-2013, if not sooner. The new Performing Arts Center is funded by passed measures in San Mateo County and plans to become the most modern arts facility in the State of California.

In 2001, the school undertook to demolish and entirely replace the original building in an effort to meet modern earthquake safety requirements. Dedicated in August 2005, the new building strongly echoes the design and materials of the original in part due to strong public outcry about the decision to demolish the structure. The building was designed by BCA Architects of San Jose, California. On February 10, 2006, the campus Quad was dedicated to alumnus Merv Griffin, who donated $250,000 to the school ($125,000 of which was intended for the performing arts department). The Merv Griffin Quad sits squarely in the center of the campus and student life at San Mateo High. It includes an amphitheatre built in the Greek-style and the Thomas Mohr clock tower, named after a longtime district superintendent and reminiscent of the tower and chimes that were removed from the building during the 1934–1935 structural reinforcements. This beautiful and welcoming courtyard is a popular gathering place for students during lunchtime and rallies.

During the 2005 rebuilding process, the original library was recreated; maintaining its signature fireplace and mantel and high ceilings. It affords a panoramic view of the center courtyard of the school.

Other improvements to the school have occurred since the 2002 Centennial including transformation of the main athletic stadium with all-weather surfaces for football and soccer and an 8-lane all-weather track; remodeling of the swimming pool in 2003–2005; an expanded weight room; and the building of a joint-use Community Gym housing the wrestling and dance rooms and a full-court basketball area.