Aki Kurose
Aki Kurose Middle School Addition and Modernization Project
About the project
This is a project to demolish 25,000 square feet of the existing school and construct a new approximately 65,000-square-foot classroom wing, and to also modernize 145,000 square feet of the existing school. The result will be permanent space for up to 1,000 student in grades 6-8. The expanded and modernized building will have secure points of entry and will be contextually appropriate and respectful of the surrounding neighborhood.
Funding is included in the Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V) to develop the designs for the project. Funding for the addition and modernization will require voter approval of the next capital levy, Building Excellence VI (BEX VI).
Timeline
- Predesign phase: In progress.
- Schematic design phase: Estimated start, March 2024
- Design development phase: Estimated start, October 2024
- Construction documents and permitting phase: Estimated start, Spring 2025 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Bid and award phase: Estimated start, Winter 2026 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Construction phase: Estimated start, Summer 2026 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Estimated project completion: Summer 2028 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Estimated occupancy: Fall 2028 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
School Design Advisory Team (SDAT)
Seattle Public Schools created the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) process to allow each school community to have input into renovation of or construction of their school building. This process provides a means of integrating a school’s vision and educational goals into the design within the structure of the district Educational Specifications (Ed Specs). The result is refinement of the Ed Specs to create school-specific designs that support each school’s educational goals. School leadership, teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members participate in the SDAT through a series of workshops.
Aki Kurose SDAT Members
Aki Kurose Middle School
- Caine Lowery
- Wendy Miller
- Maggie O’Sullivan
- David Nelson
- Susie Clark
- Mike Browne
- Qing Wenes
- Shannon Lindsey
- Kim Coats
- Katrina Hunt
- Dr. Dedy Fauntleroy
Aki Kurose Middle School parents
- Kalayaan Domingo
- Siengkham Douangdala
Aki Kurose Middle School student
- Rene Rivas Domingo
Project Management Team
- Vince Gonzales, Sr. Project Manager
- Brad Tong
- Cheri Hendricks
- Kim Fong
- Jerome Hunter
Design Team
- Amy Vanderhorst
- Sara Wilder
- Parfait Bassale
- Matthew Bissen
- Matthew Sullivan
- Bridgette Tinsley
- Theo Pinceloup
SDAT Workshop Summaries
SDAT 1: February 8, 2024
SDAT 2: March 14, 2024
SDAT 3: March 21, 2024
SDAT 4: April 4, 2024
Community Cafés
These theme-based discussions with staff, families, and community members are facilitated by the project team. Everyone is invited to attend.
Upcoming
Community Café 3.5: Theme — Supporting Students (repeat of April 18 theme), May 23, 4:30–5:30 p.m., School Library
Community Cafe 4: Theme — Outdoor Learning and Gathering, TBD in June
Complete
Community Cafe 1: Theme — Family Engagement, March 14
Community Cafe 2: Theme — Community Engagement, March 28
Community Cafe 3: Theme — Supporting Students, April 18
Project Planning Updates
Progress updates are posted for the previous month.
Major activity in April 2024
Continued SDAT workshops to craft design goals that translate Aki Kurose’s vision and values into architectural design.
- Convened two additional Community Cafe’s to discuss how a modernized school can provide better student supports, and how outdoor learning opportunities can be enhanced.
- Conducted the second site tour of recently completed school projects for SDAT members.
- Facilitated student workshops among additional cultural affinity groups to ensure that those often-marginalized voices are heard.
- Began outreach meetings to invite input into the design process from a broader swath of the Aki Kurose community.
- Participated in Student Activity Day and the student Move-A-Thon event to gather additional input from students and families.
- Presented an initial design concept(s) to the SDAT group for their evaluation in whether they meet the design goals developed in earlier workshops.
Major activity expected in May 2024
- Continue outreach meetings to invite input into the design process for a wider group of the Aki Kurose community.
- Present one or more refined design concepts to the SDAT group in response to their design goals and earlier feedback.
Project Team
Construction Management Firm: Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc. (SOJ)
SOJ Construction Manager: Brad Tong, bradt@sojsea.com
Project Design: Integrus Architectecture
General Contractor: Not yet selected