A rendering of how the EF Academy is planned to look after renovations to the grounds of the former William Carey University site are completed. (Image courtesy EF Academy)
The anticipated opening of a 975-student international boarding school in Pasadena has been delayed until September of 2022, after previously being pushed back to 2021 in July, representatives announced Friday.
EF Academy had originally planned to open a new campus on the former site of the William Carey International University at 1539 E. Howard Street this year. But the project remained in construction when the pandemic struck in force.
The school, which is being built by Swiss company Education First, was initially hoping to welcome its first students to its campus, 1539 E. Howard Street, this year. Renovations, including the construction of a new dormitory, were begun at the former site of the William Carey International University. But then came COVID-19.
Delays caused by the pandemic promoted school officials to push back the opening date until September of 2021.
“However, the world changed significantly this past spring, and regretfully, the ongoing global pandemic continues to challenge our schedule,” Education First Vice President Shawna Marino
said in a letter to the community. “The current reality relative to COVID-19 and the uncertainty clouding the coming year ahead has forced us to make the difficult decision to postpone the opening of EF Academy Pasadena to September 2022.”
School officials determined delaying the opening again was “the only responsible choice we can make that upholds our commitments to a safe and healthy workplace for our more than 200 construction personnel, and our promise to students and their families to deliver a transformational high school experience in a safe and supportive environment,” Marino said.
“We see this time not as an idle wait, but as time to prepare for an even more successful opening of EF Academy Pasadena in 2022,” she added.
Some neighbors have expressed concern about the current lack of activity ongoing at the future site of the boarding school, according to EF Academy.
“We want to assure you that while construction is on hold, the campus continues to be monitored by 24/7 security, site maintenance and tree irrigation requirements are being met, and we are protecting the buildings and grounds with weather-proofing, flood control and other temporary measures,” according to Marino.
Education First planned to resume construction at the campus in the summer of 2021, the company said.
“We know that 2020 continues to deliver disappointing news, and we wish we had a better update to share,” Marino said. “However, we are fully committed to our investment in the City of Pasadena. We are confident in the future of international education and global travel, and we know that EF Academy will be successful here in Pasadena in the very near future.”
More information on EF Academy is available online at ef.edu/academy/campuses/
See also:
Pandemic Forces Halt to Construction of 975-Student International Boarding School in Pasadena
