Santa Rosa Academy Superintendent Dr. Robert Hennings and Board President Eric Russell cut the ribbon during Monday’s grand opening celebration for Monterey Hall.
Santa Rosa Academy students have a new place to learn and perform after the school celebrated the opening of Monterey Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday.
The nearly 29,000-square-foot building includes fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, a music room, videography and criminal justice classrooms and a theater featuring professional lighting, a sound system and a grand piano.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Hennings said the new building represents an investment in students and their future.
“This building is more than classrooms and hallways,” Hennings said. “It is a promise—a promise that we will continue to invest in their education, in music and the arts, and the well-being of every student who walks through these doors.”
Menifee City Councilman Ben Diederich, a former Santa Rosa Academy board member, said the project reflects the strong partnership between the school and the city.
“It was truly a partnership between the city and the school to get it accomplished in such a short time,” Diederich said. “It’s going to be an amazing asset. Santa Rosa Academy is one of the jewels of Menifee.”
Following the ribbon cutting, Director of Maintenance and Operations Pedro Arballo led guests on a tour of the new facility, sharing details about the project’s four-year planning and construction process.
Arballo said construction moved quickly after permits were issued in September. Crews began grading the site, poured the foundation in December and started framing the building in January.
“I think this really shows what happens when you have community partnerships and relationships that build,” Arballo said.
He said one of the goals was to ensure Monterey Hall blended seamlessly with the rest of the campus by incorporating architectural features found throughout Santa Rosa Academy, including arches, stonework and bronze railings.
“Yes, it’s brand new. Yes, it’s state of the art. But this has to always look like it belonged here,” Arballo said.
While Monterey Hall will primarily serve students, Arballo said the school hopes to eventually make the theater available for community events once staff has become familiar with operating the new facility.
