A separate wooden war surplus building was moved to the site in 1946. It served as cafeteria, "auditorium", library and neighborhood meeting place. A more modern single story structure was added in 1954 with six classrooms, a gymnasium/auditorium, library, and office with a staff workroom.
In February of 1976, the school maintenance department was planning for major repair work on the 1926 part of the building. Much structural moisture-rotted wood and deteriorating masonry were found in the older part of the building. It was immediately closed when a Seattle structural engineering firm declared it unsafe. Double shifting in the "newer" part of the building got Sunnyland students through the last three months of that year. A bond issue for a replacement building was quickly drawn up. There were too many questions left unanswered and it failed that same spring.
During the 1976-77 school year the older part of the building was razed. With the existing building, four portable buildings that were brought in, and by bussing three classes of students to other schools, a regular school day was resumed in the fall of 1977. In February 1978, voters approved a bond for $650,000. State matching money totaled $337,000. The new replacement part of the school opened in September 1978 with 6 classrooms, library, three offices with group tutorial space and new and enlarged main office and staff workroom areas. Two more regular classrooms and two special education rooms were also added to the north end of the building at the same time. Structurally, with three portable buildings, Sunnyland remains the same today.
Sources: The Bellingham Herald, and Bellingham Schools Office of School Information and Communication
