Tour & Dinner Presentation

Bryant Montessori

Thursday, March 20, 2025
Tour: 4:30 – 5:30 pm PT
Dinner/Presentation: 6:00 – 8:00 pm PT

Architecture, landscape, and educational approach are woven together to promote engagement, sustainable practices, and a nurturing environment at Bryant Montessori. The replacement building sits at the edge of Tacoma’s Hilltop Neighborhood, nestled amidst century-old homes on a 2.35-acre site. The school community mirrors the makeup of this vibrant neighborhood; families are drawn to Bryant for its commitment to celebrating diversity and the natural environment, a place where PreK through eighth grade students learn and thrive together.

Bryant’s design is characterized by a minimalist approach, to not only honor the principles of Montessori, but also pay homage to the school garden and surrounding homes. The two story, 55,000 square foot building is based on a repetitive-yet-striking design that stems from function. Overhanging the front of the building, the angled portion of the roof that offers a visually engaging entryway offers shelter adjacent to the onsite garden. The dormers and shadow boxes that add depth and character to the building’s façade aim for seamless integration within the neighborhood fabric.

Design indoors is also inspired by the garden, as the interiors incorporate natural elements and moments of whimsy. The palette, calming to neurodivergent learners, uses color and various seating areas as inviting moments throughout the building. This integration not only enriches the educational experience but also resonates with the community’s values and aesthetics.

PDB delivery helped address challenging construction logistics in and around the small site bordered by narrow surrounding streets, made further complex by existing site easements. These parameters posed difficulties for maneuvering construction vehicles and equipment and limiting access for deliveries. Careful communication amongst neighbors, as well as those associated with construction, minimized disruption and ensured safety throughout the process.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how PDB was leveraged to address challenging conditions.
• Learn what building and site features support the Montessori approach to learning.
• Learn how aspects of the design create a welcoming environment for students and respond to the culture of the Bryant community.
• Learn about examples of construction logistics that were implemented to address unique site parameters.

Project Team:
Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
Owner’s Rep: Parametrix
Design Builder: Skanska
Architecture: TCF Architecture
Architecture Consultant: Architecture for Everyone
Civil Engineer & Survey: AHBL
Landscape Architect: KG Design PNW
Structural Engineer: PCS Structural Solutions
Acoustics: The Greenbusch Group
Envelope: Nexus
Hardware Consultant: Adams Consulting and Estimating
Food Services: Bargreen-Ellingson
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: Tres West Engineers
Electrical Contractor: Excel Electric of Tacoma
Mechanical Contractor: Betschart Mechanical Inc
Abatement & Geotechnical: Terracon

Dinner Program Presentation

OSPI has launched a $1 million study to recommend to the Legislature major revisions to the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP). The enabling legislation emphasizes helping districts that have trouble obtaining funding, and, reducing costs, in particular by giving funding priority to districts that use the State’s inventory of prototypical plans. OSPI has selected OAC Services to lead this effort and they are pursuing an aggressive schedule. Whatever happens, this study will affect all Washington A4LE members and the communities we serve. Now is the time to get involved.

The program will be an interactive discussion among panel members and meeting attendees. David MacBride, OAC Services will explain what the Legislature wants from this study, the schedule, workplan and how to get involved. Panel members, representing A4LE members, John Boatman, Edward Peters will discuss pros and cons of the current system and changes that would better serve learning goals and district needs. They will encourage attendee involvement (see Interactive Participation Challenge below). Another opportunity for involvement will be a focus group at the May Chapter/Regional Conference in Tacoma.

Interactive Participation Challenge: What are the top five things that would improve learning environments in Washington State? Please create your list and offer it to the group on March 20.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3c18906d73674d1d8da14d4e38583785

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the Washington State funding mechanisms for K12 school building
• Describe the history of state funding for K12 schools in the state and the political environment that has influenced funding.
• Illustrate the future policy direction for public funding of educational facilities in the State of Washington especially as it pertains to districts that have been unable to pass construction bonds for their schools for many years.
• Illustrate the proposed formula for public funding and the changes it means to K12 construction in the state.

Speakers:

Edward Peters, ALEP, LE Fellow, Emeritus Member, OSPI
Edward has been working with OSPI’s School Construction Assistance Program since 1991. He was Edmonds School District Capital Projects Director for 23 years, overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars of new construction and facilities upgrade projects, many of which were SCAP funded. He chaired the Seattle Schools citizen’s construction oversight committee, is a past member of the Accredited Learning Environments Planner Commission, and serves on OSPI’s Citizen Advisory Panel. A4LE has given him their Lifetime Achievement Award.

John Boatman, Capital Projects/Facilities Manager, Sumner Bonney Lake School District
John has over 33 years in school design, master planning, construction and school district operations management and has worked on school bond programs for dozens of Washington and California School Districts. He is currently the vice-chair for OSPI’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). His TAC sub-committees include:

• Capital Prototypical Funding Model
• Study and Survey
• ICOS Replacement Cost Module

In addition, John serves OSPI as a reviewer for the following grant programs: Urgent Repair, Healthy Kids, and Small District Modernization.

Schedule:

4:30 – 5:30 pm	Tour Bryant Montessori 717 S. Grant Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405
6:00 – 8:00 pm	Dinner Dystopian State Brewing Company 611 South Baker St, Tacoma, WA 98402

Program and Happy Hour Sponsor:

Rates (In-Person):

Members (Early)	$70.00
Non-Members (Early)	$90.00
Members (Regular)	$80.00
Non-Members (Regular)	$100.00
School Districts / Public Agencies	$35.00

Please register so we can get an accurate head count.

Registration closes on March 19.
Early bird registration closes on March 10

We greatly appreciate your attendance and active participation in our chapter events.