As the Snoqualmie Valley School District approaches the three-year anniversary of the passage of a large, $244 million capital bond, construction of the bond’s biggest project – a multi-phase, $200 million rebuild of Mount Si High School – continues at a brisk pace.
The district released an update earlier this month, saying that ironwork on the new school’s exterior is almost complete. Steel workers began installing beams for the building’s exterior over the summer and are on schedule to finalize the structural steel placement in January.
According to the update, crews have also been simultaneously working on sections of the building where the structure work had been completed, including installing steel staircases and decking; digging underground utilities for sewer, water, mechanical, electrical and telecommunications; installing roofing; installing steel-reinforced concrete slabs and fire sprinkler systems; adding mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; fire-proofing the steel structure; and beginning installation of exterior weather proofing.
With the majority of the structural steel work complete, it is becoming easier to envision the new raised, three-story 355,000 sq. ft. school that will have the capacity to house 2,300 students – and is scheduled to open in fall 2019.
The multi-phase rebuild project is expected to be completed in 2021. When the new school is ready in summer/fall 2019, the old school and gym will be demolished to make way for new parking lots, bus lanes and baseball fields (opening in 2020) on the property’s south side. During the 2019-20 school year, the new Performing Arts Center (PAC) will be built on the site of the old gymnasium. The last step involves demolishing the old PAC and replacing it with more parking spaces.
Earlier this month a lead architect shared the progress with the school board that included actual site photos compared to schematic design photos. [All photos below courtesy of SVSD.]
SES GYM OPENS IN JANUARY
Another bond project nearing completion is the Snoqualmie Elementary gymnasium expansion.
By the end of January SES will have a new gym, along with a multi-purpose area. The current SES gym serves dual purposes, including doubling as a lunch room. By adding the new gym, the school will have both a dedicated gym and multi-purpose/lunch room, making it more consistent with the designs of all other SVSD elementary schools.
According to the district, the school’s adjacent covered play area is also receiving drainage improvements during gymnasium construction.
The other large construction project funded by the $244 million capital bond was the construction of Timber Ridge Elementary on Snoqualmie Ridge. That school opened in September 2016.
For more information, pictures and videos about SVSD school construction funded by the February 2015 bond visit the SVSD Construction Update page.
