Tacoma-based BLRB Architects will design the remodel for the historic Washington-Elementary School building, if the Tacoma School Board approves the administration’s recommendation at its Jan. 26 meeting.
A staff team selected BLRB as the top firm from among three finalists interviewed Jan. 11.
School board action would allow the administration to negotiate an agreement for approximately $350,000 for design-related services on the anticipated $25 million modernization project.
“The district was pleased with the response it received and the number of exceedingly high quality firms that wanted to compete for this project,” said Peter Wall, the district’s planning and construction director. “BLRB has been a successful partner with the district in previous projects. We’re looking forward to working with them on this project, which has such strong community identity and importance to the historic character of the neighborhood.”
Washington’s main elementary school building, 3701 N. 26th St., dates to 1901 with additions and expansions in 1905, 1967 and 1968.
Tacoma voters approved a capital levy in 2010 that included funding for a modernized Washington.
BLRB has an extensive background over six decades with more than 700 school design projects valued at more than $2.3 billion. Over the last 10 years, the firm has overseen 11 historic renovations, including Fern Hill Elementary in Tacoma. The firm’s other Tacoma projects have included new campuses for Mt. Tahoma High School and, most recently, Baker Middle School.
The interview committee that selected BLRB included John Knight, Washington principal; Gerrit Nyland, community member, PTA; Deborah Sterbick, Washington teacher; Jessica Upton, Tacoma Education Association representative; Debbie Winskill, School Board member; Gary Knudson, Historic Tacoma representative; and Pete Shoop, director of Maintenance & Operations.
The project schedule calls for BLRB to initiate planning in March and work on design development this fall. The district plans to seek construction bids in March 2013 and begin construction in June 2013. The elementary school’s students will shift to the former Hunt Middle School campus for the 2013-2014 school year, then move back into the renovated Washington building by September 2014.
For more information, contact the district’s Planning and Construction at 253-571-3350.