Sunday, March 12, 2017

Construction update for the new schools

​Project​Concept Design*​Schematic Design​Design Development​Project Progress Updates
​New Elementary in Redmond Ridge East​*​April 19, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016
​New Elementary in North Redmond​*​April 19, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016
​New Middle School in Redmond Ridge​*​May 9, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016​Sept. 30, 2016
​Juanita High School Rebuild & Enlarge​June 6, 2016
June 27, 2016
​Sept. 30, 2016​Planned for January 2017
Mead Elementary Rebuild & Enlarge​Planned for January 2017
​Kirk Elementary Rebuild & Enlarge​Planned for January 2017
  * - Completed prior to committee being established

Construction has not yet begun on any of these projects. We have been going through the permitting processes for the two new elementary schools and the new middle school. The two new elementary schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. The new middle school will open in the fall of 2019.

Juanita High School is still in the design process. It was originally scheduled to be completed in fall 2021 but the planned opening is now fall 2020. There is more information on that change in the opening date and in the plans for the school, based on community feedback, on the Juanita High School project page: http://www.lwsd.org/For-Community/School-Construction/2016-Bond-Building-Projects/Pages/Juanita-High-School.aspx

  --Kathryn Reith, Director of Communications, LWSD






Project Information – rebuild and enlarge Juanita High School
This project would rebuild and enlarge Juanita High School, built in 1971. The new school would serve over 500 more students than the current building. This project was included on the Long-Term Facilities Task Force recommendations to remodel and enlarge aging schools. The Task Force also recommended, based on community feedback, that the current Field House by retained. The fieldhouse and pool building would remain as it is.
Architect: Integrus Architecture
Contractor: Cornerstone Contractors
Community Open House
March 6, 2017Juanita Community Enthusiastic About Plans for Rebuild & Enlarge Project  On March 1, more than 130 Juanita High School (JHS) parents, neighbors, community members and students attended an open house on the plan to rebuild and enlarge the school.  Attendees viewed new design and construction plans. Project team members explained schedules and important elements of the project.
The plans were revised based on clear staff and community feedback. Key changes from September 2016 include a plan to phase construction, minimize the number of portables on site and increase the seating capacity of the theater. Construction will begin earlier than initially anticipated, in summer 2017. Completion is scheduled for summer 2020. That is one year earlier than originally planned.
District and JHS leadership joined representatives from the architectural, landscape design and construction firms to answer questions and get feedback. Highlights of the project changes include: 
  • Science classrooms realigned to be on one side of the building
  • Theater expanded to seat approximately 420
  • Performing arts classrooms were shifted to be next to the theater
A major change from the original plan is to phase the project, or to build the new school in phases. Phasing will reduce considerably the reliance on portable classrooms. It will also allow the use of part of the new building beginning in the 2019-20 school year.
  • Phasing allows for some classrooms and areas such as the library, kitchen and commons to move from their current location directly into the new building in the fall of 2019. 
  • Phase one (June-September 2017) includes demolishing the west wing of the school. A total of 10 double portables (20 classrooms) will be placed to the west of the field house, where the tennis courts are currently located. 
  • Phase two (April 2018-August 2019) includes construction of the north and west portions of the new school facility and demolition of the north wing of the existing facility. Four double portables will be added, for a total of 14. When phase 2 is complete, staff and students will move into the completed portion of the school (approximately 65 percent of the building).
  • Phase three (September 2019-August 2020) includes demolition of the remainder of the existing school and construction of the rest of the new school. Only eight portables will be needed during this phase. When phase three is complete, the new facility will be fully occupied.
Phasing will cause construction activity to take place closer to classrooms. Our goal will be to maintain an excellent learning environment during construction. The contractors, architects and LWSD staff working on the project are experienced in school construction on an occupied campus. Major demolition will occur during summers and school breaks to minimize disruption to learning. Contractors will work closely with school administration to plan for minimizing noise and disruption.

Some spaces will not be available during all or part of the construction program. Students will still have the opportunity to participate in all of the normal school activities and programs.
  • The theater and associated spaces will not be available from April 2018 to early 2020. Alternative spaces for classes and performances will be provided.
  • The tennis courts will not be available for the duration of the project, beginning in fall 2017. It will likely be early 2021 before they are available for use. Alternative arrangements will be made for the tennis teams. The courts will be resurfaced at the end of the project.
  • Graduation will be held in the fieldhouse in June 2017.  Because onsite parking will be limited during construction, plans for 2018-20 graduations will depend on creation of an offsite parking and shuttle system for the event.
If you have questions or would like to comment on the project, please visit the Let’s Talk! page of the district website.

  
Site Plan


Community Input 
September 30, 2016
As part of the Concept Design phase, a community meeting was held at Juanita High School on September 28. This open-house style meeting gave parents and other community members a chance to view the preliminary designs for the new elementary school and the new middle school to be built in Redmond Ridge. They viewed presentation boards that showed the project schedule, site plan, building plan and views to show what the school will look like. Architects from the firm working on the project were available to answer questions and get feedback. Attendees provided written feedback on these initial designs. A second community meeting will be held during the Schematic Design phase of the project. Design phase, a community meeting was held at Juanita High School on September 28. This open-house style meeting gave parents and other community members a chance to view the preliminary designs for the new elementary school and the new middle school to be built in Redmond Ridge. They viewed presentation boards that showed the project schedule, site plan, building plan and views to show what the school will look like. Architects from the firm working on the project were available to answer questions and get feedback. Attendees provided written feedback on these initial designs. A second community meeting will be held during the Schematic Design phase of the project.
School Construction Input TeamA School Construction Input Team develops a set of design goals and vision for the project. The design team uses this information to guide their decision-making through the design process. The Input Team is made up of teachers, school administrators, other school staff members, parents, students and community members as well as district staff and architects.

The Juanita High School School Construction Input Team met four times in March and April, 2016. The first session explored the unique identity of Juanita High School. The second session explored other educational projects in light of the previous discussion, to capture the spatial and experiential qualities appropriate for Juanita High. The third session discussed the relationships between and within departments, the flow of students, staff and public through the building throughout the day.  A fourth session delved into locations of various activities within the building.

The input team reconvened in September 2016 to review the design process to date.
Juanita High School Goals & Visions:
  • Create an inviting environment where students and community members feel welcome and safe
  • Design socialization areas for students and staff to gather for cultivating community
  • Demonstrate school culture and pride throughout that is shared with the community
  • Provide a variety of functional, practical and adaptable spaces that have the capacity and configuration to take advantage of the evolution of education
  • Design activated environments that inspire professions, students and community members and cultivate learning
  • Design easily understood building & site organization that is easily navigable
  • Create spaces that encourage student clubs, sports, rehearsals and the activity to happen as part of daily life
  • Provide a healthy environment with fresh air and abundant daylight, visually connected to the exterior
New building specificationsSquare Footage: 217,000 s.f.
Capacity: 1,800 students (increase of 504)
Projected enrollment: 1,800 students (in 2024)
Spaces: 36 standard classrooms plus science labs, art, CTE, special education, instrumental and vocal music, library, theater, cafeteria (total of 71 teaching spaces)
Estimated Project Cost: $145,477,000 (Includes construction costs of $82.5 million in 2016 dollars, $39.5 million in non-construction costs, and $23.5 million in expected construction cost inflation now and the building’s completion)
Planned opening: 2021
Remodel vs Rebuild decision
The district completed a Remodel vs Rebuild Study to determine whether to remodel the existing school building or rebuild a new school. The study was informed by a two-day workshop that leveraged the expertise of four contractor firms, architects, a commercial developer and cost estimators all experienced in school construction.
Based on this work, the academic building would be replaced rather than remodeled.  The analysis shows the cost to remodel the building, including the upgrades to meet current codes and educational spaces comparable to other recent projects, would cost 1.8% less than to construct an entirely new academic building. This figure includes the cost of temporarily housing students during construction. 
The analysis also showed that renovation of the existing building would result in a less efficient school given the current story and a half volume. The space would be less efficient to heat. It cannot be easily converted to two stories to gain needed additional classrooms space.
The study also showed that while remodeling would result in inadequate parking considering the addition needed accommodate more students.  When the cost to replace parking is included, the cost to remodel and expand the current building would be 3.8% more than the cost to rebuild a new school.
State construction assistance: Due to its age, the school became eligible for state funds for renovation or replacement in 2001. State funds are also anticipated due to lack of classroom space at the high school level in the district overall. If the bond passes, the district expects to receive $15 million in State Construction Funding Assistance for this project.
Site images - Note: these are draft images only. Plans have not yet been finalized.
Click the small images below to see a full size version.
Current Building
Juanita High School consists of an academic building and a separate building that houses a large athletic Field House and the district’s only swimming pool.  The current building is overcrowded, housing 1,432 students in a permanent building designed for 1,296. The current building lacks bathrooms. It has issues with heating and ventilation, lighting, electrical, energy usage and data infrastructure. Classrooms are small or oddly shaped. Many classrooms do not have access to natural light, which is a requirement when building new classrooms. Research shows that student learning improves in classrooms with proper day lighting and in healthy learning environments.
Opened: 1971
Location:  10601 N.E. 132nd Street, Kirkland
Site: 42.7 acres 
Current Enrollment: 1,432 students (October 2015)
Permanent Building Capacity: 1,296 students
Building condition/Current Situation: The current school building is rated “Fair” using the State Building Condition Assessment data. This score is based on an annual building evaluation of building systems. The evaluation was conducted by a third party vendor.
Portables in use: 8
Portable age/condition: 24-28 years, rated in “Poor” to “Fair” condition based on the annual Building Condition Assessment data.

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