University High School’s California Street campus is the school’s first ground-up project in more than 40 years. The project is a 48,000-square-foot facility in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood that brings science and athletics into one building. H2I Group’s scope covered both programs. The all-electric building is targeting Net Zero Energy and LEED Platinum certification.

Awards: 2026 AIA California Design Award (Merit); 2026 ENR California Best Projects, Award of Merit – K-12 Education

Science labs: In the STEM classrooms and U-Labs, H2I Group provided and installed custom wood laboratory casework with epoxy and butcher block tops, fume hoods, snorkels, flammable and corrosive safety cabinets, metal lab tables, and overhead ceiling grid systems with custom mesh panels, along with additional equipment and accessories listed below. The ceiling grid systems had to fit within a tight space between the ceiling and metal deck, so our team coordinated closely with electrical and plumbing rough-in. Our casework partner’s chain-of-custody certification and EPA TSCA Title VI and CARB compliance also supported the building’s LEED Platinum goal.

Gymnasium: In the gym, we provided six ceiling-suspended basketball goals, a mid roll divider curtain, and Draper’s EZ Pad 3.0 gym operating system, along with volleyball and badminton equipment, Daktronics scoreboards, shot clocks, and a video board, custom wall padding, and custom-graphic bleacher end curtains.

The gym sits below street level, directly above a basement, so every volleyball and badminton floor sleeve was laid out precisely to avoid penetrating the structure below. We worked with the MEP trades to keep equipment attachment points and swing zones clear, meeting clearances the architect verified by laser at closeout. Wall pad joints were aligned with the acoustical panel joints above.

Built on a tight urban site: Located in a dense residential neighborhood, the project required detailed planning for every delivery. Lab casework was palletized at the factory for hoisting to the upper floors, gym equipment was hoisted down from street level, and unloads were coordinated with the GC around partial street closures.