Salesian College Preparatory received unanimous Planning Commission approval to construct a 28,500-square-foot gymnasium and music center on the school’s campus at 2851 Salesian Ave. in San Pablo. The commission approved a major design review and a conditional use permit for the project.
The state-of-the-art facility is set to house a 1,382-seat gymnasium that also functions as an auditorium, along with a new band room, dance studio, weight room, locker rooms, concessions, and administrative offices.
The gymnasium is planned on the site of the current outdoor basketball courts and a portion of the existing parking lot. The school submitted a parking management plan to mitigate the loss of parking during high-capacity events. It includes off-field overflow parking areas, valet service, and event-day traffic monitoring.
Salesian’s leadership views the project as essential to remaining competitive in an increasingly competitive landscape for private schools. They say this project expands court space for athletic play and adds a music room, replacing the trailer housing its band classes. The new dance studio and dedicated classroom will support the school’s burgeoning dance program. The project will also provide a gym that enables the school to host certain playoff games, as its current gym was constructed in 1939 and is not built to modern standards, according to school officials. The space will also be large enough to host graduations and other larger school events.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the Planning Commission, not the City Council, provided unanimous approval for this project at its meeting May 27, 2025.
