Tour & Dinner Presentation

Puesta del Sol Elementary

Thursday, February 13, 2025
Tour: 4:30 – 5:30 pm PT
Dinner/Presentation: 6:00 – 8:00 pm PT

Randy Newman (OSPI) Washington Chapter February Presentation »

Parking Instructions: Following online maps will bring you to the main entry. If all parking spaces are occupied, the striped spaces in the parent drop off loop can be used for parallel parking during events. Further parking is available in the staff parking lot, accessed from a separate driveway at the NE corner of the campus off 152nd Pl NE/NE 4th St.

Puesta del Sol is defined by a collective passion for language immersion and celebration of global cultural expression. Since its founding in 1986 Puesta del Sol has recognized the unique history of Hispanic languages and cultures around the world and in the Pacific Northwest to become a national leader in immersion education and built a vibrant, enduring community. The new 96,560 sf elementary provides a new home for this mission and legacy to continue.

Constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic aftershocks the project dealt with several unique challenges to procurement and delivery. The site also presented the team with major wetlands, a high water table, and limited access from non-conforming residential roadways to consider during design and construction. The team will discuss how these experiences can inform school design and construction planning.

The school flows along the natural slope of the site and is connected with two major circulation systems through the heart of the school, the Teatro del Sol. This Centro Cultural – cultural center – is embraced by the Art, Music, Library, and Specialist Resources. The Casitas de Aprendizaje – Houses of Learning and Gymnasium/Commons work with the moderate slopes to open up views, maximize solar access, and manage the scale of the building with respect to the neighboring residences. They also define the outdoor spaces of the Wetland Classroom, Garden, and Play Plaza. Balconies and bay windows ensure students are connected to these exterior spaces while murals and infographics inspire investigation of the broader context.

Enhancing stewardship has been a long term goal of the school district and Puesta pushed this idea to the next level by targeting Net Zero Energy use from the first day. A focus group including the MEP engineers and the district resource conservation manager worked from pre-design through occupancy to develop energy conservation strategies and ensure quality was balanced with budget and schedule.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify architectural strategies that promote immersive cultural and educational experiences.
• Explore design and construction approaches for dealing with site and logistical constraints such as wetlands, supply chain disruptions, strikes, and limited road access.
• Illustrate the interrelationship of site and architectural design strategies to promote connection and engagement with nature.
• Discuss architectural, mechanical, and electrical strategies for achieving Net Zero Energy performance.

Project Team:
Architect of Record: Sierra Martin Architects
Landscape Architect: Fora Landscape Architects
Mechanical Engineer: Metrix Engineers
Structural Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Electrical Engineer: Wood Harbinger
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering, David Evans & Associates
Contractor: Spee West Construction
Specialized Consultants: DCG/Watershed – Stafford Design Group
Owner: Bellevue School District No. 405

Schedule:

4:30 – 5:30 pm	Tour Puesta del Sol Elementary 301 151st Pl NE Bellevue, WA 98007
6:00 – 8:00 pm	Dinner W. Bellevue 10455 NE 5th Place Bellevue, WA 98004

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 February 12.
Early bird registration closes on February 6

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