Northshore Junior High undergoes reconstruction

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), May 23, 2003 by Rich Riegel

Northshore Junior High in Bothell, Wash. is undergoing an $18.5 million rehabilitation and expansion under the watchful eyes of those most likely to benefit from the project - the 950 students who are attending classes there even while construction goes on around them.

Work on the project began in June 2002 with the removal of most of the southern part of the building. Students displaced by the work began their studies last fall in portable classrooms erected on the tennis courts farther south of the construction site.

When students occupied the nearly completed southern wing on April 21, work began on the northern side of the complex. The entire project is scheduled for completion in December.

"This project has required some interesting logistical planning because at any one time half the student body has been displaced," said Dwayne Epp, project architect for Mahlum Architects of Seattle.

Except for the gymnasium, most of the mid-1970s-era school is being rebuilt according to a plan that calls for a spacious entry courtyard and monumental staircase, commons, library, music rooms, theater, administrative offices and classrooms.

The existing courtyard is about the only thing that will be recognized when the northern part of the building is modernized and expanded. It is now encircled by a series of gloomy arches adjacent to dark and crowded exterior corridors that connect the classrooms.

"We saw the courtyard as one of the school's biggest physical assets, one that when opened to the front of the school, provided an opportunity to create a more welcoming face to the community," said Butch Reifert, Mahlum principal-in-charge of the project.

"This is a public building that should celebrate its civic nature," Reifert noted. A 40-foot-tall clock tower will also mark the courtyard entry. Surrounding the courtyard will be the areas most used by the community, including library, administrative offices, music rooms, a 120-seat theater and a two-story commons that's nearly twice as large as the original.

"We have maximized daylight throughout the building acknowledging studies that show students do better if they have access to natural light," Reifert said.

In all areas of the building, the classrooms have clerestory windows in addition to spacious windows facing on two and sometimes three sides.

Classrooms are divided into six learning clusters, each connected by an open team area with adjacent staff workrooms. Each cluster consists of three classrooms and one science classroom. All classrooms are on the second floor and have windows that look onto the shared areas, as well as windows to the outside.

"Teaching areas have been planned to allow for future flexibility and to reflect a semi-departmentalized arrangement," Epp said.

In addition, there are five rooms for special education serving developmentally disabled children and learning centers for students needing remedial help. This area, which has its own bathrooms and kitchen, is above the library and adjacent to the general learning clusters.

The fine arts, home arts, video production and computer classrooms are oriented for northern light exposure and are located to overlook the commons.

A new heating and mechanical system and ceiling finish have been installed in the gymnasium, and new locker rooms and showers added. The gymnasium will be repainted near the end of the project.

At 116,000 square feet, the new building will be 18,000 square feet larger than the current structure. School bus, vehicular traffic and pedestrian pathways at the entry will be reconfigured to provide a safe access to the new main entrance. The north side of the building will accommodate parking for the disabled.

The predominantly steel-framed structure will have masonry veneer at the base and metal panels at the second level.

The project is of special note because it is one of the first schools in Washington to be built under a construction manager/ general contractor arrangement rather than a traditional bid process.

The general contractor Skanska USA, formerly known as Baugh Construction, was brought in early during the design stage.

"Such early involvement helps the district as owner and the design team make better informed choices about the building and how the construction schedule should work while school is in session," said Ed Lee, project manager for the Northshore School District. "Bringing the CM/GC in early also builds teamwork, which reduces problems during construction and results in a higher quality project."

"We're pleased with the design and applaud Mahlum's ability to achieve a balance between durability and aesthetics, while successfully meeting the programmatic requirements of the users," said Debra Hudacek, director of capital projects for the school district. "Northshore Junior High is an excellent example of how the physical environment plays an integral role in supporting instruction and enhancing education."

Northshore is the tenth largest school district in Washington state serving a population of 120,000 people. It has nearly 20,000 students and approximately 2,300 full- and part-time employees. The district covers 60 square miles, two-thirds in King County and one- third in Snohomish County.