Phase 2 Schools List
Every building has a useful life span. That life span depends on the physical aspects of the building – the quality and methods of construction and functioning of major systems – as well as the needs of the building users. A building may deteriorate or it may become more costly to maintain. Users may need different spaces for different activities.
The useful life for a school building is affected by how teachers and students work together for learning. As teaching methods change, buildings may also need to change to accommodate them. Current teaching models require more flexibility in class spaces than the one class/one classroom model. Students working together in small groups, for example, can use the shared spaces between classrooms in some of the newest elementary schools in the district.
To ensure that its school buildings are physically sound and meet educational needs, Lake Washington School District, with voter approval, began a systematic modernization program in 1998 to evaluate each school building every 30 to 40 years for potential updating. The program was developed in conjunction with a citizen committee. It divided the district’s schools into four eight-year phases.
What is modernization?
Modernization is a complete remodel/upgrade of a school. It includes all major building systems, such as heating, lighting, electrical, windows and roof. Code compliance and the building’s fit with the educational program are also reviewed. The program addresses only the school building itself, not fields or play equipment.
There are two options for a site’s modernization program: renovating the old building or building an entirely new one. Before any work begins on planning a building modernization, a study determines which option to use. If the cost of renovation is close to or higher than the cost of building an entirely new building, the new building option is chosen over renovation.
When the new building option is chosen, school continues to take place in the old building while a new building is built on site. Classes also continue to be held in schools that are being remodeled. During construction, access to playing fields and some areas of the site as well as building use will be restricted. Following completion of the new building, the old building is razed. This process eliminates the need for school to be moved to temporary classrooms during construction, which is costly.
Which schools are modernized when?
Before each of the first two phases in the modernization program, independent consultants evaluated all school buildings in the district for building condition and code compliance along with educational fit. Schools were ranked based on those results. The final schedule balances those rankings along with the capacity to do the projects: high school projects take more resources to manage than an elementary school project, for example.
Phase 1
Phase 1 began in 1998 and was completed in 2006. Schools modernized in this first phase were Audubon Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Juanita Elementary, Kirkland Junior High, Lakeview Elementary, Redmond Junior High, Redmond High School, Rose Hill Elementary, Thoreau Elementary, Mann Elementary and Twain Elementary.
Despite significant increases in construction costs over the eight-year period, all projects in Phase 1 were completed within the budget provided by the voter-approved modernization bonds.
Phase 2 begins
The following chart shows the schedule for modernization for the schools that will be involved in Phase 2 of the district modernization program. If a school name is underlined, the process for that school has begun and a web page for the school’s modernization program is available. Click on the school name to learn more.
Phase 2 Schools
Carson Elementary (Site 52)
Planning & Design – Fall 2005
Construction Begins – Spring 2007
Move in – Fall 2008
Frost Elementary
Planning & Design – Spring 2006
Construction Begins – Spring 2008
Move in – Fall 2009
Lake Washington High School/Northstar Junior High
Planning & Design – Spring 2006
Construction Begins – Spring 2009
Move in – Fall 2011
Finn Hill Junior High/Environmental & Adventure School
Planning & Design – Spring 2008
Construction Begins – Winter 2010
Move in – Fall 2011
Muir Elementary
Planning & Design – Spring 2008
Construction Begins – Spring 2010
Move in – Fall 2011
Rush Elementary
Planning & Design – Spring 2009
Construction Begins – Spring 2011
Move in – Fall 2012
Sandburg Elementary/Discovery Community School
Planning & Design – Spring 2009
Construction Begins – Spring 2011
Move in – Fall 2012
Rose Hill Junior High/Stella Schola Middle School
Planning & Design – Fall 2009
Construction Begins – Spring 2011
Move in – Fall 2012
Keller Elementary
Planning & Design – Spring 2010
Construction Begins – Spring 2012
Move in – Fall 2013
International Community School/Community School
Planning & Design – Fall 2011
Construction Begins – Spring 2012
Move in – Fall 2013
Bell Elementary
Planning & Design – Spring 2010
Construction Begins – Spring 2012
Move in – Fall 2013
Phase 3
Alcott Elementary, Evergreen Junior High, Juanita High School, Kamiakin Junior High, Kirk Elementary, Mead Elementary, Rockwell Elementary, Smith Elementary, Wilder Elementary
Phase 4
BEST High School, Blackwell Elementary, Dickinson Elementary, Eastlake High School, Inglewood Junior High, McAuliffe Elementary, Redmond Elementary, Resource Center, Support Services