Bow Lake Elementary School

SeaTac, WashingtonElementary SchoolNew Construction

BLRB Architects, p.s.

2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Bow Lake Elementary School

Multi-Purpose Roomand Stage

Community Environment:

Formed from a public-public partnership between the city and the district, the City of SeaTac has a community room in the building, which is used as a community childcare center before and after school hours. This synergy between the school district and the city creates additional funding for the program, serving both public agencies at once.

Community-use facilities such as the gymnasium and multi-purpose room are also strategically located in the building, allowing for convenient community access.

Student Courtyard -Looking toward the community-use facilities(Multi-Purpose Room & Gym)

Learning Environment:Consolidating two highly disparate schools into one, Bow Lake Elementary School blends the differences of students into a melting pot of educational opportunity. Home to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, the Highly Capable Program and the English Language Learning Center, representing 66 languages, the school seamlessly intermixes students in four “neighborhoods”. Each neighborhood has a distinct identity, creating personalized small learning communities within the larger setting. Uniquely integrated, students are opened to an opportunity for curiosity and a world of perspective.

“Grasslands” Neighborhood Entry and the Main Classroom Corridor

Learning Environment Cont.:

Because of the small learning neighborhoods, students receive individualized attention, while gaining a broad educational experience. In addition, these communities have helped to retain the feel of a smaller school.

Classroom withOperable Partition

Physical Environment:

The two-story, 75,000 SF facility is organized to integrate and celebrate the school’s diversity, enriching and strengthening the educational experience for all. The facility provides a centralized administrative area, and offers flexible, personalized learning by creating small communities or “neighborhoods” around shared activity areas. There are 6 classrooms clustered around the shared activity room promoting collaboration and hands-on learning.

Shared Activity Area

Shared Activity Area -With Operable Glazed System Open to Outdoors

Physical Environment Cont.:

The building further invites students to learn from the surrounding outdoor environment by providing operable glazed systems in each community that literally blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. The building's layout not only creates independent team areas, but also provides clearly defined, supervisable and logical internal circulation paths throughout the facility.

Main Entry

Planning Process:

Highline School District was facing tight budgets and shrinking enrollment leading to the decision to combine Valley View Elementary and Bow Lake Elementary.

Each school represented to a unique student body. Bow Lake was home to mostly lower income students, as well as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, and English Language Learning Center representing 66 languages. Valley View served predominantly upper middle class students and housed the District’s Highly Capable Program.

Administration Waiting Area

Planning Process Cont.:Designing Bow Lake Elementary School brought together these two diverse communities of students, teachers, and learning styles. Through numerous planning and design meetings with teachers, staff and parents from both schools, new community was formed and a unified goal for the new school emerged. Constant school and district involvement during the design phase helped eradicate any feelings of turf wars. Because of collaborative planning and design meetings, the staff from each school had a large voice in the design of Bow Lake. The design was shaped by the voice of everyone involved, and the students and faculty from both schools ultimately embraced the consolidation.

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Data

Submitting Firm : BLRB Architects, p.s.Project Role ArchitectProject Contact Thomas L. Bates, FAIATitle Managing PrincipalAddress 1145 Broadway Plaza, Suite 1200City, State or Province, Country Tacoma, Washington 98402Phone (253) 627-5599

Joint Partner Firm:Project RoleProject ContactTitleAddressCity, State or Province, CountryPhone

Other Firm:Project RoleProject ContactTitleAddressCity, State or Province, CountryPhone

Construction Firm: Porter Brothers ConstructionProject Role General ContractorProject Contact Jerry MunroTitle Project ManagerAddress 2222 Meridian Avenue East, Suite BCity, State or Province, Country Edgewood, Washington 98371Phone (253) 927-2822

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

Project Name  Bow Lake Elementary School

City SeaTac

State  Washington

District Name  Highline Public Schools

Supt/President  John P. Welch

Occupancy Date  September 2007

Grades Housed  Grades K-5

 

Capacity(Students)  600 students

Site Size (acres)  8.9 acres

Gross Area (sq. ft.)  74,980 SF

Per Occupant(pupil)  125 SF/pupil

gross/net please indicate  Gross

 

Design and Build?  No

If yes, Total Cost:  

Includes:  

 

If no,  

Site Development: $2,800,000

Building Construction:  $16,918,000

Fixed Equipment: $780,000

Other:

 

Total: $20,498,000

Main Entry

Classroom Wings

View of Classroom Wings and Outdoor Gathering Area

View of Library from Student Courtyard

Library -Entry and Check-out