![]() |
The proscenium was rebuilt after an interstitial floor housing the library was removed. The library was relocated to the former gymnasium space. |
Renovations to Seattle's historic Garfield High School focused mainly on restoring the 85-year-old building's faded beauty and creating a more usable and modern interior.
The 243,000-sf school (whose alumni include the impresario Quincy Jones) was so functionally inadequate that officials briefly considered razing it. But concerned stakeholders—including administrators, teachers, students, and community members—instead pushed for a massive renovation and wound up serving on the School Design Team. BD+C Renovation Awards judges were particularly impressed with the community's involvement in the $87 million overhaul.
For BLRB Architects of Tacoma, Wash., the Seattle office of Heery International (GC and CM), and the School Design Team, the project's biggest achievements include:
-
Converting the former auditorium into a social commons by demolishing an interstitial floor built in the '60s to house the library and reclaiming its three-story volume.
-
Rebuilding the ornate proscenium that was removed from around the stage when the '60s library cut the space in half.
-
Constructing a new 84,000-sf gymnasium and performing arts center.
—Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | May 31, 2017
NAC Architecture rolls out ‘Hack Your Classroom’ campaign
In collaboration with room2learn, NAC launched a campaign aimed at crowd-sourcing information on what teachers are doing in their classroom to improve the learning experience.
K-12 Schools | May 16, 2017
The future of schools: Net zero should be the norm
Students are helping drive change by focusing on the future.
K-12 Schools | May 1, 2017
Seattle’s first vertically-oriented middle school breaks ground
The building will provide 74,289 sf of space across its five-story classroom bar.
K-12 Schools | Apr 21, 2017
The stadium effect
School districts that invested in their athletic facilities over the last few years have seen a tremendous increase in student morale and health, growth in campus culture, and excitement within their communities.
K-12 Schools | Apr 7, 2017
Is an alternative project delivery method right for your K-12 school district?
With California’s increasingly busy—and costly—construction market, it’s becoming more difficult to predict costs with a typical design-bid-build delivery method.
K-12 Schools | Mar 9, 2017
The future of education facilities: Creating spaces where learning happens everywhere
The art of designing schools lies not in just understanding what makes a functional classroom, but in how successful we are in creating a wide array of educational options for teachers and students within the school environment.
K-12 Schools | Mar 9, 2017
School branding: The impact on identity and engagement
What is school branding and why is it important? HMC Architects’ James Krueger and Barbara Perez weigh in on the topic.
K-12 Schools | Feb 22, 2017
Through the principal's eyes: A look at K-12 architecture
Anderson-Livsey is a K-5 school located about 30 minutes East of Atlanta in Gwinnett County and has an enrollment of 785 students.
K-12 Schools | Feb 8, 2017
'Fabrication Hall' introduces Wyoming high school students to career paths
The hall offers bountiful natural light with enough space to build large-scale projects.
Architects | Jan 19, 2017
Harley Ellis Devereaux merges with Deems Lewis McKinley
The combination is expected to bolster HED’s presence in northern California and the K-12 sector.