Washington Chapter

The geographic area served consists of the state of Washington.

Regional Manager: Rachael Maldonado
Holiday Party

Holiday Party

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
6:00 – 10:00 pm Pacific Time

McMenamins Anderson School

18607 Bothell Way NE
Bothell, WA 98011

Please help us celebrate the season at our annual Holiday Party!

There is no charge for members to attend.
Entry for non-members and guests is $60.

We do ask that you RSVP/register by December 12th to help us plan for the number of attendee dinners.

RSVP / Register


Tour & Dinner Meeting

Thursday, January 18, 2024
Tour: 4:30 – 5:30 pm PT
Dinner/Presentation: 6:00 – 8:00 pm PT

Pioneer Elementary School

Pioneer Elementary School With a little creativity, upcycled architecture can enhance our community and extend the value of existing assets. Built in the early aughts, a former Boys and Girls Club – containing a gym, multi-purpose room, kitchen, and classrooms – provided the ideal “starter kit” for a school. Its location, off a main thoroughfare and adjacent to other Peninsula School District facilities, consolidates educational and recreational amenities. What was further needed: increased vehicular circulation and parking, more classrooms, a library, new main entry, and an updated personality. Completed in 2022, the transformation/expansion project birthed Pioneer Elementary, a STEAM-focused K-5 program. Designers were driven by the challenge of sparking imagination, cultivating curiosity, and encouraging self-expression among children. Tall windows illuminate soaring wood ceilings to bring warmth, texture, and a connection to the natural environment outdoors. Vibrant colors accentuate common areas and break-out spaces. A two-story addition sits perpendicular to the existing 34,000 sf wing, adding more classrooms, break-out spaces (also referred to as “flex spaces,”) a performance platform that opens to the existing Gym, main entry re-configuration, and a large administrative area. A combination of old and new, the final solution honors the architecture of neighboring facilities, and the arrangement of the site ties together shared public amenities to better meet the needs of the growing community.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how our designers:
  • Enhanced the synergy among existing community buildings and amenities through building and site design.
  • Used transparency to bring in daylight and increase the connection with the natural environment.
  • Provided design features to encourage group collaboration and learning.
  • Incorporated sustainable design strategies into the project.

Project Team:
Architect of Record: TCF Architecture
Landscape Architect: The Berger Partnership
Structural Engineer: PCS Structural Solutions
Electrical Engineer: Hargis Engineers
Civil Engineer: AHBL, Inc.
Contractor: FORMA Construction
Specialized Consultants: Owners Rep – Greene Gasaway Architects
Owner: Peninsula School District

Schedule:
4:30 – 5:30 pm Tour
Pioneer Elementary School
8502 Skansie Ave
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
6:00 – 8:00 pm    Dinner / Presentation
Ocean5
5268 Point Fosdick Dr
Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Rates (In-Person):
Members (Early) $50.00
Non-Members (Early)   $60.00
Members (Late) $60.00
Non-Members (Late) $70.00
School Districts / Public Agencies    $30.00

Please register so we can get an accurate head count.

Register

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


Tour & Dinner Meeting

Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Tour: 4:30 – 5:30 pm PT
Dinner/Presentation: 6:00 – 8:00 pm PT

St Thomas School Athletics and Performing Arts Center and the Center for Leadership and Innovation

St. Thomas School (STS) is a private, independent school incorporating pre-school through eighth grade. STS was originally designed for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The expansion to include a middle school included the design and construction of the Athletics and Performing Arts building. Performing arts and health development are highly regarded as part of the core curricula at STS. Recognizing the need to expand, STS leased land from the neighboring Overlake Golf and Country Club to procure a Performing Arts and Gymnasium building that would expand the arts and physical education program. Working closely with department heads and the community, the architecture team designed a flexible building comprised of a full-size gymnasium with a regulation basketball court, theater space, a music and drama classroom, and a rooftop playfield. To supplement these key spaces the building also includes office space, dressing rooms, and all-gender restrooms. A rooftop playfield with artificial turf expands the school’s athletic and outdoor play space. The completion of the Athletics and Performing Arts building left the old gym space available to create The Center for Leadership and Innovation (CLI). The space co-locates the existing Technology Lab with the CLI to create synergy for learners. This renovation included adding fenestrations to the exterior wall to bring in daylight, creating a bright, learning-ready space. The two-story space is punctuated with large interior windows that provide transparency across learning spaces for teachers and students. A moveable glass partition wall on the first floor allows the space to be reconfigured for flexible learning, creating separate spaces that may be utilized simultaneously by different classes. The second floor features private office spaces for one on one meetings, a conference room, and computer lab. Flexible furniture is featured throughout the space to allow for student personalization of their learning experience.

The design strategies implemented in the project aim to create a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community at St. Thomas School. The inclusion of all-gender restrooms promotes accessibility and inclusivity. The flexible and adaptable spaces accommodate different teaching and learning styles, fostering inclusiveness. Multi-purpose facilities, such as a gymnasium, theater space, and rooftop playfield, offer diverse opportunities for students. The presence of flexible furniture allows for personalization and choice, empowering students in their learning journey. These strategies collectively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable environment.

Tour Guide: Charlie Bucheit, Project Architect

Learning Objectives:
  • Innovative acoustical solutions – vertical partition, raised slab floor, etc.
  • Multi-use / transformable spaces that successfully transition a gymnasium into various performance modes.
  • Cost effective cladding systems.
  • Considerations for incorporating non-traditional and nature-forward play into school environments.

Project Team:
Architect of Record: Bassetti Architects
Landscape Architect: Site Workshop
Structural Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Electrical Engineer: PAE Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineer: Sitewise Design
Contractor: Sellen
Specialized Consultants: Acoustical and AV – Stantec; Theater Planning – PLA

Schedule:
4:30 – 5:30 pm Tour
St Thomas School Athletics and Performing Arts Center and the Center for Leadership and Innovation
8300 NE 12th Street
Medina, WA 89039
6:00 – 8:00 pm    Dinner / Presentation
TBD

Rates (In-Person):
Members (Early) $50.00
Non-Members (Early)   $60.00
Members (Late) $60.00
Non-Members (Late) $70.00
School Districts / Public Agencies    $30.00

Please register so we can get an accurate head count.

Register

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


2024 West Region Conference

Cultural Crossroads in Education April 9-12, 2024
Cultural Crossroads in Education
Honolulu, HI

Click here for more information and to register for the conference.


Thank you to our 2023-2024 Sponsors

Valedictorian

BCE CPL Cornerstone Forma Construction
Hargis Engineers Integrus PCS Skanska
SpeeWest

Salutatorian

Jacobson Engineers

Magna Cum Laude

Bassetti DLR Group Dykeman Hutteball Oremus
Mahlum McGranahan NAC
Terracon

Dean's List

AHBL Beresford Company Hainline Hurley Engineering
LPD Lydig Metrix SMA
SSA Acoustics TCF Architecture Vanir

Honor Roll

Studio Meng Starzzara

Contributor

A3 Acoustics

2023 Polished Apple Award Winner

CHES

Clyde Hill Elementary School
Bellevue School District
Clyde Hill, WA
Integrus Architecture
Submittal »

View Past Winners »

Get Involved!

Join a Committee today!

The Washington Chapter is looking for committee members to help shape the future of the chapter. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on a committee, please contact Chapter President Kyle McLeod

Committees:
20 Under 40
SchoolsNEXT
Equity & Diversity
Chapter Programs
Social Media
Technology
Sponsorship
Membership
Holiday Party
Day of Service
School Design Best Practices
Chapter Conference

Upcoming Events

December 13, 2023
Holiday Party
McMenamins Anderson School

January 18, 2024
Tour & Dinner Meeting
Pioneer Elementary School

February 20, 2024
Tour & Dinner Meeting
St Thomas School Athletics and Performing Arts Center and the Center for Leadership and Innovation

March 4, 2024
Tour & Dinner Meeting
Thomas Jefferson High School
Bassetti

April 2024
Spring Bus Tour
Kimball Elementary | NAC
Viewlands Elementary | Mahlum
James Baldwin Elementary | NAC
Van Asselt | Bassetti

April 9-12, 2024
West Region Conference
Pacific Northwest & Southwest Regions
Honolulu, HI

May 4, 2024
Tour & Dinner Meeting
Hilltop Heritage Elementary
HOA

June 12-16, 2024
Annual Conference

August 2024
Annual Board Retreat

Chapter Newsletter

May 2023

TAC Representatives Approved by the Board!

The Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Washington Chapter is recognized as a valuable stakeholder and partner to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and has been invited to have representatives sit on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).  A4LE has had representatives from both Western and Eastern Washington on TAC for several decades and we have identified two new representatives from our Chapter to be our representatives for this committee. TAC meets quarterly with meetings typically occurring in Fife.  

The primary function of the TAC is to provide technical assistance and advice to OSPI, which includes the following responsibilities:
  • Promote cost effective planning, design, and construction of public schools in order to achieve reduced maintenance and operation costs.
  • Provide expertise and advice on technical matters related to the construction, modification, and maintenance of school facilities throughout the state.
  • Facilitate communication between OSPI and professional organizations on technical issues.
  • Represent field conditions and school districts.
  • Recommend changes to enhance and improve service to school districts.

Find out more about TAC.

Please welcome Gregory Forsyth from Spokane Public Schools to represent Eastern Washington, and Noah Greenberg, AIA from Seattle Public Schools, representing Western Washington.

2023 Global & Conference Sponsorship Opportunities

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LearningSCAPES 2024

 
LEARNINGSCAPES 2024

October 15-19, 2024
Portland, OR

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