Client: Santa Clara Unified School District

Thompson | Dorfman was chosen through an RFP process to provide full development services to the District for the construction of Casa del Maestro. These services included financial analysis, concept design and programming, entitlement, permitting, and construction. As a design/build contractor, Thompson | Dorfman selected, contracted, and managed a team of qualified professionals to execute this project. Although this type of development is typically the domain of non-profit developers, Thompson | Dorfman brought a unique understanding of the target resident and product quality desired by the District. Specifically, SCUSD sought to create high-quality architecture to dispel the fears of faculty and the surrounding neighbors that it was creating a project, while designing and building the community on a fixed budget. An overwhelming response resulted in a lottery with more than 100 teachers vying for the 40 available units upon its completion in April 2002. Due to the success of Casa del Maestro, over two dozen school districts throughout California are considering similar initiatives based on this prototype.