Protected the Great Walls of Indian Heritage, eight reclaimed murals that are up to 25 feet high, during their removal, storage and re-installation. The murals had to be carefully cut from existing buildings, as each one was painted on load-bearing walls. Larger murals were integrated as key shear wall elements into the new buildings. Utilizing the murals as part of the structural system provided them the opportunity to serve a key role and share the campus story in their new locations.
Dramatically improved the storm drainage conveyance system, reducing catastrophic winter flooding in the neighborhood. The new conveyance system required coordination with Seattle Public Utilities and the school district. Coordinated by our civil team, the project was designed, permitted, and constructed in under a year, one-third of the time typical of a municipal contract of this type. The area has not flooded since. The solution also preserved Licton Springs, regarded as part of a sacred religious site by the Duwamish people.
Created an honoring circle just outside the middle school entrance features quotes from each of four chiefs — Chief Seattle, Chief Joseph, Geronimo and Sitting Bull — and serves as a place of peace, meditation and introspection.
Proposed a cost-saving option that involved crushing the 1950s building slab foundations, floors, asphalt pavement, and concrete sidewalks for re-use as fill or backfill material throughout the site.
Used cement soils to tighten the existing soil on site and force preexisting moisture out. This uncommon solution for a site of this size resulted in significant savings.
