June 13, 2022

4 zoning changes sought for new Mercer Middle School

Image from Seattle Schools document [enlarge]

Parts of the new Mercer Middle School would exceed zoning heights.

Seattle Public Schools and its architect Bassetti have refined the design for the replacement Asa Mercer International Middle School. The plan seeks four zoning modifications that will need approval from the city.

The existing school at 1600 S. Columbian Way was built in 1958 and now has 25 portables to help handle increased enrollment. The district wants to demolish two existing school buildings totaling 122,300 square feet and replace them with a new 175,000-square-foot school consisting of a three-story building on the north portion of the site connected to a one- to two-story building on the west and south portions of the site. The new school would be clad primarily in brick and metal panels.

Perhaps the biggest zoning change being sought would be building height, which would reach 67 feet where the limit is 35 feet. Project documents show that over-height areas would be mechanical penthouses stepped in from the faces of the three-story building, as well as some parapets. Only the penthouses would stand 67 feet tall.

The second zoning change seeks to install a single-sided illuminated message board, which are not allowed for elementary or secondary schools. The illuminated portion would be the size of a standard plywood panel.

The third zoning change involves an 8-foot-tall fence on the east edge of the site, and a 10-foot-tall fence on the south edge of the soccer field. Project planners say the 8-foot fence is needed for security while the 10-foot fence would prevent balls from going past the field.

The final zoning departure proposes 84 parking stalls instead of the required 167 for this project. Planners say fewer parking stalls would allow space for programmatic outdoor activities. To help meet parking demand for public after-school events, bus drop-off areas would be used for additional parking.

The district wants to start construction in August 2023 and open the new school in September 2025.

Public comments on the zoning changes can be emailed until July 25 to Nelson Pesigan at Nelson.pesigan@seattle.gov; or sent by mail to City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Attn. Nelson Pesigan, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.

In addition to Bassetti Architects, the design team includes Site Workshop, landscape architect; AHBL, civil engineer; Metrix Engineers, mechanical; Hargis Engineers, electrical; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, structural engineer; A3 Acoustics, acoustic consultant; and JLR Design Group, food service consultant.