This replacement 355,000-square-foot school features small learning communities that are collocated with shared resource spaces, increased natural lighting, and sweeping views of the Cascades to support innovative teaching and foster interaction between students and staff.
Construction of the new school adjacent to the former school’s footprint reduced construction time from five years to three years.
A separate but adjoining freshman campus building offers critical support to students as they transition to high school. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities offered to the entire 2,300-student Wildcat community.
The school embraces 21st century career and college readiness with more science and lab spaces as well as flexible Career and Technical Education spaces. Student-staff collaboration and interaction are encouraged in an open media area/library, wide hallways, an outdoor courtyard, and multiple commons and food courts. A large athletic facility with two gymnasiums and a state-of-the-art performing arts center (complete in January 2021) are available for student and community use.
Durable, low maintenance materials withstand climate factors better and offer lower long-term upkeep costs. The materials include corrugated steel siding and fiber cement/composite panels in corresponding shades of light and dark gray, plus warm accent colors using wood-like material made of steel. Terracotta trim color complements the other exterior materials.
Poor soil conditions required innovative and creative design solutions to reduce the chance of liquefaction during a seismic event. Because the depth of these poor soils extended more than 300 feet, a conventional pile-supported foundation system was not prudent. Investigation of alternative foundations led to the choice of stone columns for soil reinforcement. Our team worked closely with other foundation experts on the proprietary design and construction of this complex aggregate pier system, a grid system of more than 4,800 columns. Proactive pre-construction planning resulted in a fair, competitive bid for the owner and contractor.
Located in a floodway and a 100-year floodplain, it was essential that the flow paths and flow velocities of the new school’s location mimic the former elevation and flood storage volume conditions. All buildings are elevated above the floodway levels, using specific flood control features to also protect adjacent properties. Drainage features such as large culverts below the sports fields allow floodwaters to pass through the new location in the same way that they passed through the school’s former location.
Take a virtual tour of this new campus, courtesy of NAC Architecture.
An insider’s view of this elevated campus from our civil and structural engineers’ perspective: Behind the Scenes at Mount Si High School.
Photography © Benjamin Benschneider All Rights Reserved.
