A small portion of the crowd (line extended considerably beyond) waiting to get a preview tour of the new campus at 7025 E. Parkcrest (SE quadrant near Carson/Studebaker)

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Another classrooms; preview guides said tables and chairs can be quickly reconfigured

The electrical cables will hook up to a flat screen monitor. Several classroom and lab areas include this feature.

Photo shows front portion of a lab/instructional classroom. This is the teacher's area...

...and students will work in this area. Vertical pods in the students' area will attach to computers.

This is the auditorium, but it is actually a lecture hall.

Notice no curtains or back stage areas for performances. No music or fine arts classes are planned at McBride. Likewise, there's a large gymnasium but no competitive sports are planned.

Auditorium seats have college-style swing-out tables for note-taking.

School Board member Dr. Felton Williams attended the event.

Principal Steven Rockenbach and LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser share a few words. They quickly adjusted plans to accommodate the much larger than expected crowd (see photos below).

The crowd extended out the side door and across the front of school (not visible in photo) with additional arrivals are visible in the distance on Parkcrest St.

Another view of the crowd with more arrivals in the distance.

Principal Rockenbach gave groups a quick overview in the library...

...and visitors headed out in groups to tour the campus

Guides were dispatched to various locations to describe campus features.

LBUSD photo

The public is invited to this event to view firsthand the new facility built on the former DeMille Middle School site at 7025 E. Parkcrest St.

LBUSD says tonight's event will feature informal campus tours and is being hosted by LBUSD Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser and McBride Principal Steven Rockenbach.

LBUSD says:

[LBUSD text] McBride is the first of several small high schools planned as part of the Measure K construction and renovation program. Measure K is the $1.2 billion school facilities initiative approved by local voters.

Named for the late Long Beach civil rights leader, Ernest McBride, Sr., the campus is the first new LBUSD high school in a generation. When the school opens this fall, it will accommodate 210 freshmen, and each year, an additional class of ninth graders will be added until the school reaches its full complement of ninth through twelfth grade students in 2016.

The school will offer a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum that includes California State University and University of California entrance requirements, with an added emphasis on real-world training in three career pathways: Health and Medical, Public Services and Forensics, and Engineering.

The campus layout features a "main street" design with classrooms and other buildings surrounding an open area that provides maximum visibility and security. The small learning communities will each have their own labs and customized classrooms with "boomerang" desks that can be arranged in a dozen ways.

The campus has unique features, such as a college-type lecture hall and a covered outdoor dining patio rather than a traditional cafeteria. To create additional spaces for small group gatherings, each small learning community has a vestibule area that resembles a student union.

The campus wi-fi network will enable students and teachers to use laptops and iPads anywhere, not just in a classroom. The school meets state energy performance standards for schools with such "green" features as a rooftop solar system that will supply up to half of the campus’ energy needs, automatic dimming light fixtures and on-site storm water retention.

LBREPORT.com will be on-scene to let you hear and see it all. Join us tonight starting at 6:00 p.m. with extended coverage to follow.