The Encinal High School Track & Field project, located in Alameda, transformed the campus with a new synthetic track and field, towering 90-foot stadium lights, updated bleachers with a press box, a modern scoreboard, refreshed basketball and volleyball courts, and upgraded site amenities including new fencing and gates. Building on the San Francisco Bay meant battling bay mud and coastal winds, driving foundations far deeper than expected, including 40-foot pole embedments. The shoreline setting also brought rigorous oversight, especially from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, which safeguards public access and the bay’s environmental health. Surprises hidden in undocumented bayfront fill and strict Base Flood Elevation requirements shaped the design, but strong teamwork turned these challenges into a safe, resilient, community-ready facility.