August 30, 2001

Seattle schools on a construction spree

Space in the Seattle Center’s 62-year-old Center House will be renovated to make for way for a new, 300-student high school.

Last February, Seattle voters passed a six-year, $398 million construction levy to continue the Seattle School District’s effort to update and replace its aging schools.

The levy, called Building Excellence II, is an extension of the first Building Excellence program, a $330 million levy approved in 1995 that’s funding renovations, replacements and additions at 19 Seattle schools. The second levy will pay for similar projects at 17 more schools over the next six years.

Seattle is not alone in its need for more and better school buildings. A recent research survey conducted by the National Education Association estimates that the nation’s school districts will need to spend $254 billion on renovation and new construction to provide students with adequate facilities.

So how will the Seattle School District spend its share of that enormous figure? Read on.

What’s wrong: Does not meet the district’s desired seismic resistance standard, and also has a number of spaces that do not meet the district’s current educational standards.

Seattle Schools wants to: Renovate the 1922 building and demolish the 1928 addition, gym, lunchroom and shop. Modernize the remaining structure while retaining much of the architectural character of the building. The 9.5-acre campus is one of the district’s smallest and considerably smaller than the district’s goal of 17 acres per high school, so $5 million of the proposal would provide for potential site acquisition to expand the campus.

Cost: $75.6 million

What’s wrong: The building has a number of spaces that don’t meet the district’s current educational standards for classroom size, recreation areas and science labs. There’s also not enough parking.

Seattle Schools wants to: Renovate the 1923 building and demolish the 1929 annex and gymnasium. Build a new addition and gym would while retaining much of the significant architectural character of the building.

Cost: $60.9 million

What’s wrong: The building doesn’t meet the district’s desired seismic resistance standard, and also has a number of spaces that do not meet the district’s current educational standards for classroom size, recreation areas, handicapped accessibility and science labs. Parking is inadequate.

Seattle Schools wants to: Demolish nine portables and the single-story wings and replace them with a new addition. Space would be added for a co-located community college program. Much of the significant architectural character of the building would be retained.

Cost: $48.5 million

What’s wrong: The building has a number of spaces that do not meet the district’s current educational standards for classroom size, recreation areas, handicapped accessibility and science labs. There’s also not enough parking.

Seattle Schools wants to: Renovate the 1929 building and a 1931 addition, modernize the gym, add an elevator, demolish a single-story building west of the three-story structure, remove the four portables, and build a new addition while retaining much of the significant architectural character of the building.

Cost: $33.4 million

What’s wrong: The north and south wings do not meet current district standards for classroom size.

Seattle Schools wants to: Renovate the south wing, gymnasium and auditorium to provide a new location for an 800-student Hamilton Middle School. The district plans to work with the city and community to find ways to make the unused north wing available for community use.

Cost: $18.4 million

What’s wrong: South Lake is an “open concept” school with no cafeteria.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add a cafeteria/auditorium and renovate the building with conventional classrooms, which would provide additional capacity for about 800 students.

Cost: $16.7 million

What’s wrong: The school does not meet the district’s desired minimum seismic resistance standard and also has a number of spaces that do not meet the district’s current educational standards for classroom and gymnasium use.

Seattle Schools wants to: Demolish the existing buildings and build a new two-story school, increasing capacity from 325 to 535 students.

Cost: $16 million

What’s wrong: The Secondary BOC program is an old school building that doesn’t have a gymnasium or a sufficiently sized cafeteria. Classroom spaces do not meet district size standards.

Seattle Schools wants to: Relocate the school.

Cost: $14 million

What’s wrong: Nathan Hale is the only one of the district’s 10 traditional high schools without an auditorium.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add an auditorium/performing arts center.

Cost: $9 million

What’s wrong: The school uses eight portable classrooms.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add a new wing to replace the portables.

Cost: The project shares a $26.3 million facilities budget with four other schools.

What’s wrong: The school uses six portable classrooms and has no cafeteria.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add a new wing to replace the portables, and build a new cafeteria/auditorium.

Cost: The project shares a $26.3 million facilities budget with four other schools.

What’s wrong: The school uses four portable classrooms.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add permanent classroom space to replace the portables, and build a new cafeteria/auditorium.

Cost: The project shares a $26.3 million facilities budget with four other schools.

What’s wrong: The school uses four portable classrooms and has no cafeteria.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add permanent classroom space to replace the portables, and build a new cafeteria/auditorium.

Cost: The project shares a $26.3 million facilities budget with four other schools.

What’s wrong: The school uses five portable classrooms.

Seattle Schools wants to: Add a new wing to replace the portables, and build a new cafeteria/auditorium.

Cost: The project shares a $26.3 million budget with four other schools.

Seattle Schools wants to: Upgrade facilities to better support academic program needs. Specific upgrades will be determined later.

Cost: The project shares a $9 million budget with two other schools.

Seattle Schools wants to: Upgrade facilities to better support academic program needs. Specific upgrades will be determined later.

Cost: The project shares a $9 million budget with two other schools.

Seattle Schools wants to: Renovate space in the Seattle Center’s 62-year-old Center House to create a new, 300-student high school.

Cost: The project shares a $9 million budget with two other schools.

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