‘Iolani School needed a new student center. The private coed prep school had outgrown the previous one built in 1959 and was in need of a facility reflective of the present era — a place that meets the learning needs of ‘Iolani’s 2,200 students for the 21st century and beyond.
Formal planning for a new, larger facility began in 2022, funded largely by a gift from ‘Iolani parents Justine Stamen Arrillaga and John Arrillaga, with the remaining funds coming from the community and earmarked school funds.
Working with San Francisco-based architectural firm Gensler and Honolulu’s WCIT Architecture, plans were designed for a 65,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility nestled in the middle of ‘Iolani’s campus.
Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. (ACK) was brought on board as the general contractor, with construction of the $70-million project slated to begin in June 2024 and scheduled completion in the winter of 2025, in time for the spring semester — an aggressive 18-month timeline that included the demolition of the existing six-decade-old structure, and the ground-up
construction of what would soon become the Arrillaga Student Center.
A Demanding Syllabus
The timeline wasn’t the only dilemma the project team would need to confront. Much of the construction took place during the school year, while students and faculty were on campus, presenting several hurdles for everyone involved.
ACK Vice President Brian Niitani oversaw all field and office operations at the jobsite. “Construction logistics were a constant challenge,” he says. “The building footprint took up nearly the entire available workspace, leaving very little room to maneuver,” adding that construction barricades “had to be continuously relocated to balance the needs of both active construction and the school’s daily operations.”
The campus only had one access point off Laau Street, which meant that entry to the construction site, including for delivery of materials, had to be coordinated around peak traffic hours when the school’s entrance was congested with student drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as other campus events, according to Niitani.
Working in such close proximity to students in a learning environment also meant that noise was a huge concern. “[W]e had to be mindful of students studying and sitting for exams,” recalls Niitani. “Loud construction was prohibited during finals week entirely, which required us to rearrange our schedule, a challenge the team navigated.”
When asked how the project team worked through these obstacles, Niitani notes that it was all due to communication, planning and teamwork. Weekly meetings between ACK, ‘Iolani and construction managers P3 Management LLC (P3M) ensured that everyone knew what to expect and allowed the project team to adjust their plans as needed. “Subcontractors were kept informed well in advance to ensure they had the right manpower and materials ready when required.”
Jon Hee, senior project manager for Commercial Plumbing Inc., concurs, saying “one of the main considerations was coordinating construction activities around the ongoing
operations of the school and the presence of students. Careful planning and communication helped ensure the work progressed smoothly while minimizing disruption to the campus.”
Commercial Plumbing was subcontracted to disconnect the existing plumbing systems from the old building prior to demolition and remained on board for the installation of equipment and fixtures for the new facility. Their scope of work encompassed “installation of the sanitary waste and vent systems, domestic cold and hot water systems, gas piping for the new kitchen and emergency generator and the storm drain and overflow drain piping systems serving the roof and area drains,” says Hee. “We also installed the finish plumbing fixtures and kitchen equipment for the project.”
Commercial Plumbing’s portion took a little over a year, a schedule that Hee says was challenging. “However, with a well-organized project schedule and strong coordination led by Albert C. Kobayashi, we were able to stay on track and complete the work on time without compromising quality.”
Graduation Day
The Arrillaga Student Center was completed in December 2025, on time and within budget, opening to students at the beginning of 2026.
Its striking design with expansive spaces and sweeping curves is an iconic presence on the campus. But it’s more than just about good looks. “Beyond the aesthetics, what’s unique is how naturally the building fits into the existing campus,” says Niitani. “It doesn’t feel like something that was dropped in as it feels like it was always meant to be there. The way student traffic flows through and connects to the rest of the campus is seamless, with no blind corners or dead ends. Everything fits perfectly.”
Intended to be a locus of campus life, the new student center boasts multiple features and amenities to benefit students as well as faculty. These include several new classrooms and learning areas; covered and open-air gathering spaces; a health and wellness center; a fully equipped commercial kitchen and food storage areas, as well as a spacious two-story dining area — the Tsai Family Dining Hall — for people to gather, eat and socialize.
“The dining hall is truly something special as it has a grand, open space with 20-foot-plus ceilings, which is impressive,” says Niitani.
“The dining hall is truly something special as it has a grand, open space with 20-foot-plus ceilings, which is impressive,” says Niitani.
Creative Partition Systems worked on the student center’s wall finishes, ceiling finishes and exterior work, including the dining hall. The hall’s high ceilings take on the appearance of wood, complementing the furniture and fixtures. The truth is that they are comprised of AL13, a batten system made of aluminum but clad to take on the appearance of wood. Michael Zhou, project manager for Creative Partition Systems, explains that the finished aluminum looks identical to wood but is more resilient and will hold up better over time, highlighting its resistance to termites and lower maintenance requirements compared to wood products.
Photo courtesy Adam Taylor
Creative Partition Systems’ work also extended to the student center’s third floor, a largely open-air rooftop event space with views of Diamond Head and Waikīkī.
“The third floor is a highlight worth mentioning,” Niitani says. “It was designed as an open, multi-use space where students can both play and study, and it consists of three distinct areas:
An open artificial grass area where younger students can run and play, with tables and umbrellas for those who want to relax or study outdoors; a covered open space; and an enclosed area for studying and socializing.”
This area also includes additional classrooms and a tea house for ceremonies and meditation.
The shape of the rooftop was intended to evoke both the wing of the ‘Io, the Hawaiian hawk, as well as a cape of Hawaiian royalty, a nod to King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, patrons of the school who also gave it its name in 1870.
Passing with Flying Colors
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Melanie Pfingston, ‘Iolani’s interim Head of School. “Students immediately embraced the new Arrillaga Student Center. There is energy in the building throughout the entire day. Many students have shared how much they appreciate having a dedicated space designed with their needs in mind. … Faculty members have shared similar enthusiasm, noting how the Student Center has strengthened collaboration and quickly become a hub of connection for students and faculty alike.”
Pfingston adds, “We are deeply grateful to the families, donors, trustees, architects WCIT and Gensler, and builders like Albert C. Kobayashi Inc., whose shared passion and support made it possible.”
Niitani also holds high regard for the cohesiveness of the project’s stakeholders. “Our relationship with ‘Iolani and construction manager P3M was a standout,” says Niitani. “We anticipated significant challenges working in the middle of an active campus, but the school and P3M were incredible partners as they were flexible, communicative and genuinely willing to work with us at every turn.”
Niitani notes with pride how well the entire project team, from the subcontractors to the owner, designers and consultants, all worked together, performing at an “exceptional level,” he says, from beginning to end.
“The biggest takeaway was how well everyone worked together,” says Niitani. “The key to our success was the trust and open communication between all key stakeholders … Beyond that, the building itself is just stunning, which made it a truly special project to be a part of.”
Arrillaga Student Center subcontractors and suppliers in alphabetical order
Acutron LLC
Affiliated Construction LLC
Alaka‘i Mechanical Corp.
Alcal Specialty Contracting Inc.
Bruce Matson Co. Inc.
Choice Fence Inc.
CMC Rebar
Commercial Plumbing Inc.
Contract Specialties in Hawaii
Creative Partition Systems
Economy Plumbing & Air Conditioning
Electrical Control Innovations Inc.
Goalpros Baseball Field
HC&D
Hui Kū Maoli Ola LLC
InspiredPlay Hawai‘i
Island Flooring Co. Inc.
Island Pacific Distributors Inc.
Island Pacific Installers LLC
Jayar Construction Inc.
Jayco Hawaii Inc.
Kelikai Inc.
Kula Glass Co. Inc.
Northshore Exteriors Inc.
Otis Elevator Co.
Pacific Decorative Concrete Inc.
Pan-Pacific Mechanical
Pavimento Hawaii LLC
R&L Ohana LLC
Swanson Steel Erectors Inc.
Tajiri Recycling & Demolition LLC
TriMark
Wasa Electrical Services Inc.
WE Painting Inc.
Window World Inc.
