In January 2025, wildfires devastated Los Angeles, destroying over 16,000 homes and buildings—including 40% of Palisades Charter High School—just days before the spring semester. Displacing 2,500 students, the fires forced an urgent solution. Gensler, in collaboration with C.W. Driver Companies and the City of Santa Monica, reimagined 100,000 square feet of the landmark Sears building in downtown Santa Monica into a fully functioning, temporary campus in record time.

Joanne Forsyth from Blackman & Forsyth heard that Pali High was looking for donations for a temporary space they were creating for the students. She had worked with ANEW on past projects and was able to connect the High School with ANEW who arranged the donation of thousands of dollars worth of furniture to the school in a great time of need. This donation enabled the school to resume classes 35 days after the fire damage halted student learning.

Learn more about this project:

• Building a New Temporary Home for Pali High
  In the wake of L.A. wildfires, Gensler transformed a former Sears department store into a high school for 2,500 students in just four weeks.
  GENSLER
  June 2025
• Palisades high students return to class at former Sears building following wildfire
  ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Santa Monica, California
  August 2025