Original contract amount $20,113,202 Address 2020 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham Start of construction May 1999 Expected completion date July 1, 2000 Owner Bellingham School District No. 501
Classic entry will be retained. Courtesy of ARA Architects
The school will feature a spacious grand entry.

The finished project includes 166,000 square feet of educational facility space and 180,000 square feet gross floor space. Old plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems have been completely removed and new modern systems installed. The renovated facility is designed to house 1,200 high school students in an educational program developed around the “school within a school” concept.

The project includes an 11,000-square-foot student commons, cafeteria, entry/lobby. This will be a multi-use space serving as a monumental entry lobby to the building, including an in-house theater, gymnasium and other facilities. The new 16,000-square-foot gymnasium includes three basketball courts and bleacher seating for 2,000 spectators.

The theater is renovated space converting an older auditorium to a state-of-the-art theater for theatrical performance. The seat deck will be reshaped to optimize sight lines and create a formal orchestra pit. The completed theater will seat 780, with all seats enjoying premium sight lines.

Principal construction materials include reinforced concrete, structural steel and long-span steel joists. The 17-acre site is being completely regraded to provide five tennis courts and fields for soccer, football, baseball and softball. Parking will be provided for about 380 cars.