Location: Compton, California
Square Footage: 223,650
Dealer: D&D Learning Spaces
Architecture & Design Firm: DLR Group
Photography: Lawrence Anderson Studio
In a remarkable transformation of a historic institution built in 1896, Compton High School proudly reopened its doors in August 2025 with a state-of-the-art campus designed to inspire and empower future generations. The journey began in 2015 when community voters approved a $350 million bond measure to fund this ambitious new beginning.
The renowned architectural firm DLR Group led the visionary design in close partnership with project management firm Cumming Group and construction company Swinerton. Guided by its commitment to the community through the "Built by Compton" Initiative, the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) created pathways for local workers and businesses to actively participate in the project and construction trades. After a decade of dedication and collaboration, this joint effort culminated in a 223,650 square foot campus that redefines education throughout the district.
Crucial to this transformation was the selection of D&D Learning Spaces as the trusted furniture vendor. With over 50 years of experience and deep ties to the school district, D&D turned to their longstanding manufacturing partner, Kimball International, to help bring the interiors to vibrant life. From student dining areas and administrative offices to dynamic collaboration zones, Kimball International’s modern, flexible, and finely crafted furniture became the perfect fit for several areas of the visionary campus.
“When evaluating the best solution for office and dining furniture for the project, Kimball International was our first choice,” said Dean Smith, CEO of D&D Learning Spaces. “Having visited their factory in Jasper, Indiana, over ten years ago, I was struck by their dedication to design, quality, and service—from ordering to manufacturing and testing.”
The new campus embraces a future-ready learning environment designed around keystone-shaped learning studios, student and teacher collaboration zones, a dynamic media center, and inviting dining spaces. To support this vision, solutions from Kimball International’s broad portfolio, including multipurpose lounge seating, versatile tables, and personalized workstations, were selected to foster the collaboration and adaptability essential to 21st-century education.
"From a design perspective, the flexibility of combining National Footing Bases with Universal Tops gives designers the freedom to create a wide variety of tables suited for diverse spaces within a school environment,” said Doug McIntosh, Learning Environment Designer at D&D Learning Spaces. “Compton High School perfectly illustrates this approach by using a consistent base and metal finish across tables of different heights, shapes, and sizes."
Among the crown jewels of the new campus is the Andre “Dr. Dre” Young Performing Arts Center, made possible through a generous $10 million donation from the famed Compton native and Grammy-winning artist. This 40,868 square foot venue reflects Compton’s deep cultural roots in music and performing arts, providing students with industry-quality recording studios and performance spaces. Kimball International’s furnishings, including welcoming lounge seating in the green room and spacious workstations in the audio and video labs, provide comfortable, inspiring environments that nurture creativity and engagement.
At its heart, the new Compton High School is more than bricks and mortar, it is a promise realized. As CUSD Board of Trustees President Micah Ali remarked at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, “It is a sanctuary of scholarship and a launchpad for opportunity, built by Compton, for Compton, and for generations yet to come.”
Through thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and careful selection of trusted manufacturers like Kimball International, the new Compton High School stands ready to cultivate limitless student potential and serve as a vibrant cornerstone in the community for decades to come.
