Crocker Middle School's aging multipurpose room is coming down, and a new 9,056-square-foot building is going up in its place. For the roughly 450 sixth- through eighth-graders returning to the Hillsborough campus for the 2026-27 school year, the project means construction along Ralston Avenue through winter 2027 before they get a modern assembly, dining, and performance space.

The Hillsborough City School District broke ground on the new MPR and a connected 2,097-square-foot administration building this summer, according to a June 30 report in School Construction News. The project is funded by Measure H, the local school bond Hillsborough voters approved in June 2022.

"These modern and adaptable spaces will provide the backbone by which the campus functions," Superintendent Ana de Arce said at the groundbreaking, calling the project "a critical investment for our students and staff."

The new MPR will include a raised performance space, a meal serving area, a warming kitchen, and a retractable back wall that opens onto a new outdoor student courtyard. That quad will serve as a flexible gathering area for lunch, performances, and community events. The existing building, which housed the school's kitchen, stage, and assembly area, has been demolished.

A new administration building connected by a covered walkway will house offices for the principal, assistant principal, and school nurse, along with a conference room, staff workroom, and restrooms.

The parking lot along Ralston Avenue will also be reconfigured to create a dedicated drop-off and pick-up lane separated from the parking area, with 25 standard spaces, two ADA spaces, and two EV charging stations. Thirteen elm trees will be planted along the lot's frontage for shade.

Blach Construction is the general contractor, with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects designing the facilities and Van Pelt Construction Services managing the program. Construction is projected to wrap up in winter 2027, according to School Construction News.

The project is not the only Measure H work happening at Crocker this summer. A new culinary arts classroom is scheduled for completion by September 2026, and a makerspace conversion of the school's lecture hall is also underway, according to the district's project page.

The Hillsborough Police Department and Public Works are coordinating with the district to minimize traffic impacts and communicate any street closures or delays, according to the town's weekly bulletin.

Families with questions can email [email protected] or visit the district's dedicated project page at hcsdk8.org/measure-h/crocker-mpr-updates for site plans and construction updates.