The City of Everett faced a number of obstacles in replacing its comprehensive high school. With limited space available for large-scale construction in this small, densely populated city, the most viable site was a parcel of parkland that would not only house the 325,000 sf high school, but would also provide the space necessary for playfields and parking.
Following an extended approvals process, the city hired HMFH to review the existing documents for constructability and compliance with evolving building codes, and to complete final design of the high school. Through careful review of the original program, HMFH was able to reduce the original project cost and square footage while adding program space, including four classrooms and two science labs. In addition, HMFH’s energy-efficient re-design of the school resulted in rebates totaling nearly $350,000 from a combination of electric and natural gas utilities.
The six-level school is built a steep hillside, so that from the residential neighborhood at the top of the site, the building is just two stories and pedestrians can reach the lower site through a series of ramps and walkways.
In addition to classrooms and laboratories for academic instruction, this comprehensive high school also features a range specialized teaching spaces, including shops for carpentry, electrical, and machine work, as well as facilities for computer drafting, digital photography, video production, and culinary arts instruction. Athletics and the arts are well-supported by a full-sized auditorium, a gymnasium, a weight room, a gymnastics studio, and playing fields. And in a unique effort to support student health as well as learning needs, a full-time student health clinic was also developed as part of the campus.