Beverly Hills Unified School District’s El Rodeo Elementary School was honored with a 2025 Structural Engineering Excellence Merit Award in the Retrofit/Alterations category by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC). The award was presented at SEAOSC’s prestigious annual awards ceremony on May 14 in Downtown Los Angeles, celebrating the collaborative work of HMC Architects, structural engineers Hohbach-Lewin, Inc., and ProWest Constructors.

El Rodeo Elementary School is a testament to the delicate balance between heritage and progress. Established in the heart of Beverly Hills in 1927, this facility has undergone a transformation that embraces modernity while honoring its storied past. The historic modernization and seismic retrofit project sought to preserve the school’s Spanish Renaissance Revival facades and iconic dome, ensuring that every detail, from intricate ceiling designs to ornate molding, remained untouched by time.

This project, funded by Measure BH, with an initial budget of $153 million, involved seismic retrofitting and modernization of the five buildings comprising the 118,000 SF El Rodeo campus. This highly complex project was divided into seven phases: selective demolition, asbestos abatement, erosion control, heating and air conditioning work, historical cast stone and exterior ornamental tile restoration, and theater restoration. In addition to preserving the historic elements, we restored the 673-seat auditorium to replicate the original ceiling, provided new seating, and incorporated modern audio-visual systems. Additional upgrades included fire alarm and fire protection systems, new HVAC systems, electrical upgrades, new pathways and paving, shade structures, and landscaping.

The Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) is dedicated to developing and engaging its members to shape the future of the structural engineering industry. Its annual awards program honors the region’s best structural engineering projects. To learn more, visit their website.