Noise, Dust, Traffic: Update on OCSA Construction

Joey Zhou & Rosie Greenwood

Any OCSA student — new or returning — had one common thought on the first day of school: “What is up with all the construction?” With the current, disheveled state of the blacktop, blocking paths to the Tower and Annex, it’s pretty hard to miss.

In 2022, OCSA announced a concept called “Students First: A Capital Campaign.” Attached to this announcement were many digitally rendered concept images of the intended new campus. A few of the features in the images include a student lounge for studying and a fence surrounding the campus.

This past spring semester, the exterior stairs were completed and made available for student usage this fall semester. Additionally, a new mural for the annex was painted and uncovered. Additional improvements are expected to be finished by early spring of 2026, leaving seven more months of construction. Many acknowledge the importance of improving the OCSA campus, with students and teachers alike approving the campus’ ideas for the beautification upgrade. However, many said that there are numerous negative aspects getting in the way of student life as well.

Emma Gelinsky (MT ‘28) mentioned how the construction “adds traffic,” as well as an “unnecessary stress of getting to class.” The root of both of these problems seem to be the lack of walkways on the current campus. There's only one walkway, roughly hallway-sized to get from 10th Street to the Annex. During passing periods, an extreme blockage rises from the lack of space to travel between the buildings. Ada Wei (VA ‘28) added how “OCSA feels less welcoming and familiar than before.” The space has been reduced from a large, open area to a closed-off region barely wide enough to accommodate more than three students walking together. These inconveniences have made tardies a more common occurrence for students.

Furthermore, some students are proposing alternative solutions, such as the separation of the stairwells. Elena Abdollahi (IM-SO ‘28) explains how there is more stair traffic because “you can’t tell who is trying to get to the stairwell and who is trying to get into a classroom.” She suggests assigning classrooms to either stairwell similar to OCSA’s policy regarding emergency situations.

In addition to that, some unspoken traditions of OCSA culture have been disregarded due to the construction. Besides stair traffic issues, lunch areas have been heavily reduced as well, with many students cramming together in the DMS quad. Lyla Han (IM-SO ‘26) describes how “usually only seniors sit near the potted trees but the underclassmen are taking up all the space because the containers are gone.”

These modifications to the campus affect the student experience, especially for many seventh graders, who are experiencing their first year on an unfinished campus and seniors who are experiencing their last year of high school in a construction zone. The inconveniences of construction have made this school year feel pretty hectic and uncertain, but the creative image of a grand and magnificent campus remains, tying our community together with resilience. The challenges are real, but so is the excitement waiting to come! By the time construction is finished, the school will not only look improved, but provide new opportunities for comfort, growth, and collaboration. The OCSA community continues persevering the difficulties with persistence, knowing the end result will be worth the wait!