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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.

Timeline

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Open phase
Learn about each project phase
  • Predesign phase complete
  • Schematic design phase complete
  • Design development phase complete
  • Construction documents/permitting phase complete
  • Bid and award phase complete
  • Construction complete
  • School open

New School Building Open

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

Photos from the event and of the completed school are below.

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

Recent Progress

Progress updates are posted for the previous month after the BEX and BTA Oversight Committee meets.

During September, the project team worked on the closeout including commissioning and punch lists. Both are expected to be complete in October.

Project Progress Archive

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
aerial view of a construction site within a neighborhood
Aerial view – Oct. 2021
a flatbed semi truck has a load of wood and other materials on it
Materials salvaged from old building heading to storage – Oct. 2021
aerial view of a construction site with several rectangular holes lined with wooden frames
Drone view of area A brace frame footings – Dec. 2021
an aerial view of a construction site that is mostly dirt
Aerial view – Dec. 2021
aerial view of construction site with a curved trnecy with pipes and a concrete frames with concrete in them
Drone view of building area A footing, stem wall, and deep utility installation – Dec. 2021
construction site with tall wooden frames for concrete with a pumper truck behind it
Concrete frames during concrete pour at area B – Dec. 2021
an aerial view of a construction site covered in snow with a cleared street above it and snowy streets around it
Aerial view during December snow – Dec. 2021
aerial view of construction with equipment digging and concrete rectangles
Footing and stem walls for building area A – Jan. 2022
concrete frames with bracing at a constrution site
Radius wall at building area B – Jan. 2022
aerial view of a construction site with a concrete pumping truck installing concrete
Concrete installation at the classroom wings – Feb. 2022
aerial view of a construction site with the building shape outlined with concrete walls
Outline of gym and commons building with shallow utilities laid in place – Feb. 2022
aerial view of a crane with workers attaching a piece of structural steel
Structural steel installation begins for area A – Mar. 2022
aerial view of structural steel framing being installed on a concrete pad for a large buidling
Structural steel erection underway for area B – Mar. 2022
aerial view - metal roof material on top of a structural steel frame with wood lined rectangle holes
Metal roof deck on area B, with gym skylights being framed – Mar. 2022
A drone view of a large building under construction
Progress on building areas A (classrooms, administration) and B (gym and commons) – April 2022
aerial of a building under construction with steel framing
Steel erection completed for building area A – April 2022
Part of a building under construction with blue and yellow material on the exterior
Building area B, housing the gym and commons, with sheathing and building wrap started – April 2022
a red and white I beam is being signed
Signing the ceremonial (and structural) topping out beam – April 2022
blue material on the outside ofa two story building under construction
Building weather resistant barrier on the gym portion of the school – April 2022
a large stairway inside a building under construction
Building area A learning riser seating and stairs leading up to library – April 2022
the roof of a building with roofing materials
Roof installation in progress on building A, May 2022
two buildings under construction are joined in the middle
Aerial view of building B to left and building A to right, May 2022
interior of a building under construction with metal and rebar on the floor
Preparing for concrete on floor 3 of building A, May 2022
lower floor of a building under construction with a concrete floor
Slab on metal deck for floor 2 in building A, May 2022
Exterior of a building under construction. it is yellow
Exterior sheathing and waterproofing installation, May 2022
a building under construction with metal wall studs
Exterior framing in progress for the classroom and administration wing – June 2022
interior of a building under construction with metal studs making a curved shape
Interior framing forming the curved wall for the classroom/administration wing – June 2022
a flat roof with black material and skylights
Roof work continues for the commons and gym wing – June 2022
deep and normal concrete stairs next to each other in a building under construction
Learning stairs in classroom building – Aug. 2022
aerial view of a building under construction with blue material on exterior walls
Building A houses classrooms, library, and administration – Aug. 2022
aerial view of a building under construction with a flat gray roof with skylights andblue material on exterior walls
Building B housing gym, kitchen, and commons – Aug. 2022
a large room under construction with high ceilings and window holes
Library in classroom building – Aug. 2022
a worker on a scissor lift is painting in a two story room under construction
Gymnasium located in building area B – Aug. 2022
metal framing around a concrete platform with stairs
Stage area in commons, located in building area B – Aug. 2022
aerial view of a large building with blue sides
Aerial view with the classroom wings in the center – Sept. 2022
an interior room under construction with a curved wall of windows
Administration area windows with wallboard installation nearly complete – Sept. 2022
an elevator sites in a wall that is under construction
Elevator installed – Sept. 2022
a large room with no ceiling has cabinets on two walls
Classroom casework installation underway – Sept. 2022
a large volume room with high ceilings under construction
Gymnasium looking toward multi-purpose room and stage – Sept. 2022
Large wall tiles being installed on tile backer board on the wall
Gymnasium porcelain wall tile in process – Sept. 2022
aerial photo of a large building in a residential neighborhood
Aerial view – Oct. 2022
a three story building under construction with metal grid on side
Installing metal panel support system – Oct. 2022
a Genie-lift in an unpaved couryard surrouded by a 3-story building
Installing exterior metal panels – Oct. 2022
a large building exterior with unfinished walls above concrete panels
Installing precast concrete panels – Oct. 2022
a metal roof supported by posts with construction stuff piled under it
Installing the covered play structure – Oct. 2022
a large open area in an unfinished building with concrete stairs
Constructing the learning stairs – Oct. 2022
a large open space with windows and high ceilings under constructino
Construction in the library space – Oct. 2022
two workers installing low shelving under a window
Installing casework – Oct. 2022
small rooms under construction with painted door frames
Interior painting of the restroom area – Oct. 2022
Aerial project photo showing a large building
Aerial view of project in November 2022
a muddy contstruction site with some concrete walls and a concrete box
Site retaining walls and planter at west edge of site – Nov. 2022
a three story buildng with workers installing brick masonry from a lift
Installing exterior masonry cladding – Nov. 2022
an unfinished hallway with wood paneling on walls
Installing wood paneling in the classroom wing – Nov. 2022
a staircase with plastic sheeting on the steps
Painting interior staircase railing – Nov. 2022
a large room with a ceiling grid, a counter with sink/faucet and a metal work table
Installing kitchen equipment and wall coverings – Nov. 2022
aerial view of a large building with a road in front
Aerial view – Dec. 2022
One part of a two story building exterior. The end of the building is curved and there is brown textured siding on it. Part of it has a grid for where more siding goes.
Installing exterior metal wall panels – Dec. 2022
a worker in a lift basket is in front of a two story building. One of the three windows has a sunshade panel installed
Installing sun shading devices on south side of gym – Dec. 2022
a muddy ground with a metal roof structure in front of concrete retaining walls set into a hillside
Constructing site retaining walls along the west hillside – Dec. 2022
a large open indoor space has scissor lifts with workers painting areas of ceiling fixtures
Painting the commons interior – Dec. 2022
a stage area with unfinished concrete stairs is in a large room with floors covered for protection
Interior painting around the stage in the commons – Dec. 2022
an unfinished interior corridor has windows interspersed with wood wall panels and a celing grid
Installing wall panels in the corridor between the classroom wings – Dec. 2022
concrete frames are surrounded by dirt
Concrete planters under construction in courtyard – Jan. 2023
exterior of a building under construction with half height concrete wall with bricks around windows and metal panels on top
Installation of exterior metal wall panels on south side – Jan. 2023
a muddy outdoor area has a partially completed roof with yellow material being installed
Exterior soffit installation for covered play area – Jan. 2023
a worker uses a floor polishing machine on concrete floor in front of a window
Polishing the concrete floor in the main corridor with words inlaid – Jan. 2023
wide concrete stairs next to regular concrete steps in front of interior windows
Installing interior storefront windows on the south side of the library – Jan. 2023
a yellow hallway with a stairway
Interior painting in stairway – Jan. 2023
an exterior wall with a door has blue tiles and tiles of other bright colors being installed in stripes
Mosaic tile installation near main entry – Feb. 2023
exterior windows under a roof overhang have varying colors of orange tiles being installed in stripes
Mosaic tiles around windows near front entry – Feb. 2023
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
concrete walls are in place in a hillside with gravel between them, creating a ramp
Ramp to play area under construction – Feb. 2023
a scaffolding is in front of a partially installed glass wall. On th eother side of the glass wall, people are standing in a hallway
Glass wall being installed on 3rd floor hallway – 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
workers are smothing concrete outside of a brick building
Site work in the courtyard between the classroom wings – March 2023
a series of concrete arc shaped benches form a circle with spaces between them to enter. Large rocks are in the middle of the circle
Concrete seating area under construction – March 2023
looking up to a high ceiling that has a skylight framed in bright green
Skylight in the dining commons – March 2023
a canopy structure extends from a building next to a concrete wall. Construction equipment is being used under it.
Covered play area canopy – March 2023
Three panels of tall windows reach all the way to the floor with a door in the wall next to them
Interior folding doors and entry door to a classroom – March 2023
a pile of boards have words engraved on them
Stair riser signs ready for installation on the learning stairs – March 2023
One worker stands on concrete stairs with another on wood stairs that are twice the height
Constructing the learning stair – March 2023
aerial photo of a large building with two wings and another large building attached
Aerial view in April 2023
a metal frame is being installed on a concrete pad
Exterior bike shelter in progress – April 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 large concrete stairway inside a building
Installing pre-cast concrete treads on the learning stairs – April 2023
folding glass doors divide the outside from the inside of a building
Installation of exterior folding doors at the commons – April 2023
Patterned wood is on the upper wall of a two-story atrium
Patterned wood panels on wall – April 2023
a table has textured wooden panels being installed on the side
Patterned wood panels are being used throughout the school – April 2023
a person stands by a striped panel on the wall next to a window
Panel radiators installed throughout the school – April 2023
aerial of two connected large buildings with construction on site. houses are all around across the street
Aerial view May 2023
a paved courtyard between two buildings has raised curbed planters
Landscaping in progress – May 2023
a view from above of a metal framed space with bike racks inside
Exterior bike shelter installation – May 2023
a metal frame of posts and rafters forms the frame of a structure with paving underneath
Entrance canopy construction underway – May 2023
a large two-story room has backetball hoops and a wood floor is being installed
Installing the wood floor in the gym – May 2023
a stage proscenium over a raised stage has wood panels partially installed
Installing salvaged glu-lam panels on the stage proscenium – May 2023
the inside of an elevator has squares on the floor and a railing around the walls
Elevator complete – May 2023
aerial photo of two large connected buildings with outdoor construction work happening
Aerial photo – June 2023
a depression surrounded by a concrete walkway has black material spread across it - a trellis-type structure and trees are in the background
Bio-retention planter liner installation – June 2023
a concrete curb separates gravel from soil. multi colored posts stick up out of the soil
Installation of play structure in progress – June 2023
a person is at the top of slope that has trees and other vegetation. the person is bent over in front of a black metal fence
Site fencing being installed – June 2023
a concrete ramp zig zags on a hill with concrete short walls with metal railings and fence
Guardrails and handrail installation – June 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
bushes and plants in pots site next to a circle of boulders with a curved sidewalk and a paved area with painted lines
Garden installation in progress with play area in background – August 2023
a ramp and walkway set into a hillside
Decking and access ramp complete on the hillside – 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

Project Designs

Architects drawings show what the new school might look like

a drive way and walkway lead to a large building
Entry path to new main entrance
a large building with a canopy gazebo with intricate metal supports
Exterior canopy at gathering space
a large building with trees in front of it
View from 23rd Avenue
architect drawing of a play fied in front of a school with some planting beds and play equipment
Exterior Play Area
archtitects drawing of a large building with a mosiac wall below brown walls
Mosaic at entry
drawing of a hallway with words on the floor
Welcoming entry hall
a large room with book shelves and tables
Drawing of future library
a learning stair with wood large steps for seating and a concrete stair for walking up and down
Learning stair drawing
drawing of a school lunchroom
Dining commons drawing
a hallway with a seating nook that is colored green
Hallway with a nook
hallway drawing with windows that have bright colors in the window frames
Interior corridor

About the Project

The new three-story Kimball Elementary School will provide the spaces and resources that students need for academic success. The approximately 95,000 square foot school will meet the district’s elementary educational specifications and provide 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 preserves valuable outdoor spaces that will be used for both education and recreation. The design is organized into learning clusters with classrooms surrounding learning commons. It will have secure points of entry with visitor access controlled by the administration office.

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

Sustainable Design and Construction

In keeping with SPS’s clean energy goals, operation of the new school will 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.