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architect drawing of entrance to a 3 story building
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Kimball

Kimball Elementary School Replacement Project

Kimball Elementary is in their new school building for the 2023-24 school year.

New School Building Open

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new school on Aug. 31, 2023. Read the story.

a yellow lion costume covers two people and a child holds a mask up next to it
Lion dancers leading the way through the school building
two people in a yellow lion dancer costume
Kimball lion dancer performing at school entry
a person in a red lion dancer costume
Red lion dancer performs at the school entry
two people dressed in a white lion dancer costume at the bottom of a stairway with people watching from the stairs
Lion dancer enters the commons
lion dancers stand on the stairs of a stage with three people standing behind them
Lion dancers arrive at the stage
a large group of people in front of a wall with a map
Enthusiastic audience
a group of people on a stage lean toward a red ribbon with scissors in their hands
Cutting the ribbon
three people are shown from just below the waist. the one in the center holds giant scissors
Principal Gray, Superintendent Jones, and President Hersey
A two story brick building has a walkway leading toward it
New Kimball Elementary School entrance
a three story building has the ground floor set back with a tile wall in rainbow stripes. There is a two-door glass entry. A sign says Kimball Elementary School above the door.
New entrance
a three story building has the ground floor set back with a tile wall in rainbow stripes. There is a two-door glass entry. A sign says Kimball Elementary School above the door.
View of the entrance and wall tiles
a room with a counter that has a textured wood front
Administration office
a classroom with groups of tables and a wall that is open to another classroom
Classroom with wall open to adjoining classroom
a classroom with desks in rows and an area rug with colored circles
Classroom
a group of lime green chairs sites on a turquoise rug in a corner with windows on both sides. an adult and a child site in the two of the seats
Group gathering space
a gymnasium with children playing
Gymnasium
3 teal-colored doors have a toilet icon and say student restroom
Gender-neutral individual restrooms
a wooden stair designed for sitting has words in several languages on the risers
Learning stairs
a large room has low bookshelves and a large wall of windows
Library at the heart of the school
a paved walkway leads to a patio area that has seating. a three story building is behind it
Outdoor learning area on the east side
looking up a hill with trees and shrubs to a brown two story building
East side of the new school building
a wood wall has texture carved into it
Close up view of one of the many textured surfaces within the school
a classroom with tables set in a circle, windows on one wall with bookshelves below, a white board and projector on another wall
Classroom furniture in place – August 2023
four red chairs sit on a blue area rug with a table between them. a partial wall separates them from another area. windows are on one wall
Furniture in place – August 2023
looking down at a white roof on a bike shelter
Canopy installed on bike shelter – August 2023
playground equipment sites on a green surfaced area with curbing around it. a building is behind it
Play equipment on the play area – August 2023
an green turf area with soccer markings is in front of a building with playground equipment behind it
Play field installation complete – August 2023
a paved area in front of a building has road lines and building outlines painted on it
Traffic garden in the play area – August 2023
a ramp and walkway set into a hillside
Decking and access ramp complete on the hillside – August 2023
aerial view of two large buildings and a parking lot
Aerial photo – August 2023
a wall has a indent that contains a very large section of folding wall covered with a map image
Operable partition between commons and gym – June 2023

Photos

a site plan drawing of Kimball Elementary
Site plan of new Kimball Elementary school
aerial photo of a neighborhood with an empty block sized lot
Aerial view – Sept. 2021
people are looking at brightly colored tiles on a wall. they wall is partly tiled, and partly prepped for tiles
Mosaic tiles near front entry at corner – Feb. 2023
a hallway under construction has people working to install wood panels under windows with colorful window wells
Plywood panels being installed a ramp – Feb. 2023
a wall in a room under construction has colorful pieces of wod partially installed with light wood framing around the whole space
Plywood panels near the main entry – Feb. 2023
looking up to a high ceiling that has a skylight framed in bright green
Skylight in the dining commons – March 2023
four pathways lead to a central circle with curved seating and boulders in the center
Concrete outdoor seating area east of the classroom building – April 2023
a table has textured wooden panels being installed on the side
Patterned wood panels are being used throughout the school – April 2023
Proscenium surrounding a stage is made of wood. the stage and steps leading to it are concrete
Glu-lam panels from the old building are installed in the commons – June 2023
a wall has a indent that contains a very large section of folding wall covered with a map image
Operable partition between commons and gym – June 2023
an empty gymnasium with basketball hoops, floor striping, and the word Cougars on the floor
Gym floor striping and finish complete – June 2023
aerial view of two large buildings and a parking lot
Aerial photo – August 2023
a paved area in front of a building has road lines and building outlines painted on it
Traffic garden in the play area – August 2023
an green turf area with soccer markings is in front of a building with playground equipment behind it
Play field installation complete – August 2023
playground equipment sites on a green surfaced area with curbing around it. a building is behind it
Play equipment on the play area – August 2023
looking down at a white roof on a bike shelter
Canopy installed on bike shelter – August 2023
four red chairs sit on a blue area rug with a table between them. a partial wall separates them from another area. windows are on one wall
Furniture in place – August 2023
a classroom with tables set in a circle, windows on one wall with bookshelves below, a white board and projector on another wall
Classroom furniture in place – August 2023

About the Project

The new three-story Kimball Elementary School provides the spaces and resources that students need for academic success. The approximately 95,000 square foot school meets the district’s elementary educational specifications and provides space for up to 650 students. It is designed to provide an equitable, safe, and inspiring learning environment for all students.

A collaborative process resulted in a plan that preserved valuable outdoor spaces that is used for both education and recreation. The design is organized into learning clusters with classrooms surrounding learning commons. Secure points of entry with visitor directed into the administration office before entering the school.

The new school building was thoughtfully designed to fit into the neighborhood with color choices that reflect natural elements. A canopy provides awaiting and gathering area near the front entrance.

Sustainable Design and Construction

In keeping with SPS’s clean energy goals, operation of the new school does not require any fossil fuels. In addition, the roof is designed to accommodate solar panels, which could offset 80% of the building’s energy use in the future.

Features to reduce energy use:

  • Geothermal heating
  • Highly efficient ventilation that recovers heat before air leaves the school
  • Energy-efficient LED lighting
  • Highly insulated walls and roofs
  • High performance fiberglass windows

Other sustainable design strategies:

  • Storm water management with rain gardens
  • Native and drought-resistant plantings
  • Shielded site lighting to reduce light pollution
  • Demolition and construction debris sorted and recycled

Projected Energy Use Index (EUI): 18

Design firm: NAC Architecture

Contractor : Cornerstone General Contractors

Project Budget: $86.4M

Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.