The Beauty in Efficiencies. The progressive design-build project includes the construction of a new 55,000 SF facility to house approximately 400 students. The site’s primary layout is intended to maximize open space, provide safe and efficient separated drop-off areas, play areas, and field areas while providing ideal daylighting orientation to the classroom wing. The design includes a global geography and social moment of sister cities, an entry designed to welcome students in more than 10 languages, a comparison of large mountains in the world, and a linear history of the City of Tacoma. The project requires careful planning and coordination due to the small, 5.6-acre site that has sloping topography and is surrounded by dense, single-family residential homes on all sides.

Leveraging Design-Build. To maximize the value of the program, the team harnessed the power of design-build and expertise of trade partners to get accurate cost and schedule information during design. The team is working closely with the Tacoma Public Schools to increase local business participation from 15% to 30% and overall business equity inclusion goals.