Plans for Large School Proposed for Empty San Jose Offices

BASIS Independent Schools eyes vacant three-story office building for new high school campus.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

BASIS Independent Schools has submitted a preliminary proposal to the city of San Jose to convert a vacant three-story office building into a new high school campus that could accommodate up to 800 students. The plan includes renovating the existing 72,700-square-foot office building and constructing a new 16,600-square-foot gymnasium building on the property.

Why it matters

The proposed school would breathe new life into a vacant office building and provide families in San Jose with a new high-quality private school option. BASIS is known for its rigorous STEM-focused curriculum and has earned top rankings among private and STEM high schools nationwide.

The details

The proposed BASIS high school would include classrooms, a theater, science labs, a pottery and kiln room, administrative space, and other facilities needed for a traditional school. The school would also have two outdoor play areas. BASIS expects to lease the 525 Race Street property, which is currently owned by an affiliate of Avenues: The World School, a company that had previously planned a large campus on the site but never began construction.

  • BASIS hopes to gain early consideration from the San Jose City Council in August 2027.
  • The school aims to receive approvals for a general plan amendment, rezoning, and conditional use permit by December 2027.
  • If approved, BASIS plans to begin construction in March 2028 and complete the project by May 2029, with the first high school classes starting in August 2029.

The players

BASIS Independent Schools

A network of private schools with 12 campuses in the United States, known for its rigorous STEM-focused curriculum and top rankings among private and STEM high schools.

Avenues: The World School

An affiliate of this company currently owns the 525 Race Street property, which had previously received city approval for a large school campus that was never built.

Toby Walker

A vice president with BASIS Independent Schools who submitted the proposal to the city of San Jose.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We look forward to working collaboratively with the city to further expand our footprint in San Jose and provide families with a premier education opportunity.”

— Toby Walker, Vice President, BASIS Independent Schools (Project proposal)

What’s next

If the proposal is approved, BASIS plans to begin construction on the new high school campus in March 2028 with the goal of opening the school in August 2029.

The takeaway

The proposed BASIS high school would transform a vacant office building into a new educational hub, providing San Jose families with access to a highly regarded private school option focused on STEM education. The project highlights the potential for adaptive reuse of underutilized commercial spaces to meet community needs.