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Seattle Public Schools/Departments/Capital Projects and Planning/School Design and Construction/Projects/Alki

Alki

Alki Elementary School Addition and Gym Modernization Project

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Project Update: September 2024

  • Started digging for footings and underground utilities where the kitchen will be located.
  • Continued drilling for geothermal wells, which will be part of the heating/cooling system.
  • Completed the underground storm water detention tank
a person is working on a frame with rebar within a construction site
Preparing a brace frame footing – Sep. 2024
people working to lower material on top of concrete box using a crane
Setting the lid planks on top of the storm water detention vault – Sep. 2024
a large drilling rig with a person standing by it in a dirt field with a building behind
2nd drill starts up for geothermal wells – Sep. 2024
aerial of a construction site that is about a full block. there is a building on one side
Current conditions – Sep. 2024

July 2024 News Story: Construction of New Alki Elementary Begins

About the Project

Most of the existing Alki Elementary School will be removed. A multi-story approximately 80,000 square foot replacement school will be constructed and the existing gymnasium will remain and be modernized. The existing Seattle Parks department community center will remain. Site improvements include stormwater management and parking for 15 vehicles.

Funding: This project is funded by the Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V), which was approved by Seattle voters in 2019.

Designed for current and future students

The new cross-laminated timber building and modernized gymnasium will provide permanent space for up to 542 students in preschool through grade 5. The learning environment is designed to meet the needs and support academic success for all students. The facility will be constructed of materials and systems that will stand the test of time and last 75 years or more.

The new building will meet district educational standards for elementary schools, tuned to the site-specific needs of the Alki community. Input gathered from the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) — an advisory group consisting of school leaders, students, parents, and community members — ensures that the design reflects and honors the school personality, identity, and society

The design puts a priority on being easy to navigate for students, staff, and parents. It includes an inviting “front porch” at the new entrance facing the park boulevard, which will enhance connections to the community and park.

Planning is in progress for the playfield, sports courts, and boulevard in partnership with the Seattle Parks Department. 

Safety and Security

For security, visitors will enter through the secure main entrance that directs people into the administration office to check in. School grounds will be surrounded by a fence and all exterior doors will be locked during the school day. 

Sustainability

The new Alki Elementary is being designed to work toward the district’s goals for clean energy and renewable resources and includes the installation of solar panels.

The project will have:

  • Fresh air ventilation
  • Daylight in all classrooms and student spaces
  • Highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling
  • Onsite stormwater management

Construction materials include cross-laminated timber (CLT), a material that reduces the carbon footprint of the whole project.

Shared Play Spaces

The Seattle Parks Department’s Alki Playfield and parkway is used by Alki Elementary School for arrival, community gathering, and play will be improved as part of the school construction project. Read more.

Timeline

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Construction phase, which is colored bright green. completed phases include predesign, schematic design, design development, construction documents/permitting, and bid and award contracts. Those phases are in dark green. The future phase of Open is in yellow.
Learn what happens during these project phases
  • Construction in progress
  • Planned school opening: September 2026

Project Progress Photos

aerial view of a construction site
View of project – Aug. 2024
a large round hold filled with water in a dirt construction site
Recently drilled hole for foundations – Aug. 2024
a grader, drill rig, and other construction equipment in a dirt construction site
Drill for boring foundation holes – Aug. 2024
a drill rig with a person operating it
Setting up to drill for geothermal wells – Aug. 2024
concrete forms below grade of a construction site
Installing forms and rebar for storm water detention – Aug. 2024
aerial photo of a building with a construction area in front of it including equipment and piles of gravel
View of the project site in June 2024
a two-level concrete retaining wall has a railing on top and there is shrubbery above and houses visible above that
Completed retaining wall – June 2024
a group of people face away from the camera while discussing display boards in an outdoor paved area. there are groups of people gathered under a canopy and other people walking by
Talking to the community about designing the park spaces – June 2024
a large construction machine with tracks has a giant drill bit and is screwing it into the ground between two metal posts
Installing wall piles for the retaining wall – April 2024
large metal posts approximately 12 feet tall are lined up along a hillside and workers are putting giant wood slabs between them
Installing lagging for the new retaining walls – April 2024
a brick wall on the left faces a partial wall made of steel posts and wood slabs on the right. a house is visible on the hill behind the right side wall
Lagging installed for the new retaining wall, looking north – April 2024
a truck labeled "Seattle Tree Care" sites next to a slop with vegetation and houses above. A machine arm is visible reaching for vegetation
Clearing landcape for new retaining wall – Mar. 2024
Aerial view of a large lot with ponding and grass next to a building
Current conditions with grass and temporary erosion control to keep water out of the building – Jan. 2024
a pond of water sites amid grass near a 2-story building. there is an orange construction fence visible.
Temporary erosion control working to avoid run-off of rain water – Dec. 2023
an open area has grass with an orange temporary fabric fence
Hydro seeded grass to help control runoff – Nov. 2023
a graded dirt field in front of a two story building
School site cleared and graded looking toward gym – Sept. 2023
a back hoe demolishing a building floor
Demolition revealed part of an old floor – Sept. 2023
exterior of a building with workers on a lift
Sealing and protecting the existing gym after the school building was removed – Sept. 2023
an excavator is on top of a pile of concrete rubble emptying into a container on a truck
Separating and removing demolition debris – August 2023
an excavator is crushing a brick building. There is a person on a lift spraying a hose. There is rubble on the concrete in the foreground
Demolition of the main building, looking east – August 2023
an excavator is crushing a wooden building while a person sprays a hose at it
Demolition of the portable with dust control with hose – August 2023

Current Designs

The drawings below show the current designs for the school.

architect drawing of a 3 story brick building corner with a breeze way entrance to the left
Potential view of the west side of the school
architects drawing of a 3 story brick building with windows and doors on ground floor and a paved area with people in front
Potential view of the welcoming entry
architect drawing of a person standing in front of a whilte board with younger people sitting at tables
Potential view of a learning area
architect drawing of people sitting in front of a wall of windows
Potential view of the library windows
architect drawing of a large space with a door and a stairway
Potential view of the central stair
architect drawing of large space with lunch tables
Potential view of the commons/dining area
an architects drawing of a classroom with an adult and a child at a white board
Potential classroom

Community Participation

The Capital Projects and Planning department values insight and input from the school community and neighbors when planning a construction project, beginning with the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) process.

Summary of all communication and engagement during the Alki Elementary School planning process.

Learn more about the Alki Elementary School SDAT.

Project Team

Design Firm: Mahlum Architects

General Contractor/Construction Management Firm (GC/CM): Cornerstone General Contractors

Project Manager: Brian Fabella, brfabella@airllevant.com, 206-252-0702

Interim Location for Alki Elementary School

Alki Elementary School has relocated to the Schmitz Park School interim site for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years. Address: 5000 SW Spokane Street

Contact

For questions or comments about the project, please use our online feedback form

Alki Elementary School Project Site Address

3010 59th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Alki School Profile

Alki School Website