Birney Elementary School

Take a special tour of Birney with Principal Balatbat

Even though back-to-school looks very different this year because of Covid-19, that didn’t stop Principal Ronel Balatbat from sharing an inside look – physical distance style - at the newly built Birney Elementary School.

Birney Elementary Construction Updates


ABOUT THE PROJECT         

Birney Elementary is home to three Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs for preschool through fifth grade. Birney also offers a special education program and HeadStart preschool. Birney currently serves approximately 470 students in Tacoma's South End. The current building was built in 1962, with the addition of a gymnasium and resource room in 1972.
 

Students will remain on site during construction. 

Take a look at McGranahan's January 2018 Presentation, which details what the new Birney will offer. 

Student capacity: 545 students
Projected budget: $37.1 million    
Architect: McGranahan Architects    
Contractor: Turner Construction
Construction: May 2019 - September 2020
Percentage complete: 75%
Expected opening: September 2020

This project is funded by the $500 million school construction bond voters passed in 2013.