Transforming Capitol Hill: Seattle Academy's Sustainable Middle School

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Middle School Aims to Transform Capitol Hill Neighborhood

LMN Architects has designed a new building for the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS) in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, which will become the first mid-rise middle school classroom building in Seattle. The Cardinal Union, which is part of the new building, will serve as the front door for the independent secondary school, and create a stronger presence for the middle school. Through careful utilization of the dense site and strategic visual and physical connections, the new building will extend the school’s learning environment into the community and integrate it into the fabric of the neighborhood.

Program and Site

The new middle school will provide much-needed spatial flexibility, contemporary classrooms, and purpose-built science labs, fostering mentorship across grades and enhancing connectivity to shared programs. The learning commons, maker space, instrumental music classrooms, second gym, and rooftop playfield will accommodate changes to the curriculum while enhancing existing SAAS programs. The new building, which will be connected to existing SAAS buildings, will be a critical link in creating a cohesive institution for SAAS students.

Design

The new middle school is composed of a five-story classroom bar and a gymnasium building. The outdoor rooftop playfield will sit atop the gymnasium and provide much-needed activity space, while an outdoor area located at the building’s main entry will provide a welcoming place for students to gather and collaborate. Each grade will occupy a floor within the classroom building, with classrooms organized around flexible, community learning spaces to accommodate project-based learning and cross-discipline discovery. The building will be clad in a mix of grey- and cream-colored bricks, which will fade from dark to light vertically along the façade. Exterior red metal sunshades will provide colorful relief against the brick backdrop.

Sustainability

Sustainable features are a key factor in the design, and have been thoughtfully incorporated to enhance the student experience. Building analysis modeling was incorporated early in the design process to optimize daylight, solar exposure, and natural ventilation, while balancing the project budget against carbon reduction and water conservation goals. Natural ventilation strategies coupled with a highly-efficient mechanical system and a high-performance envelope result in a projected 45% reduction in annual carbon emissions over similar buildings, which is equivalent to 8.8 acres of conifer forest that would be needed to sequester the carbon on an annual basis. The new building also incorporates a solar panel array, living roofs adjacent to classrooms, and a future-compatible rainwater collection system, which is intended to provide non-potable water use for the campus. Web-based dashboards will provide instantaneous feedback to students and faculty on solar production, building performance, and water conservation, increasing awareness and integrating results into classroom activities.

Overall, the new building for the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Middle School represents a significant step in transforming the Capitol Hill neighborhood. With its innovative design and sustainable features, the building will provide a flexible and contemporary learning environment for SAAS students while enhancing connectivity to the surrounding community.

Read also about the BROOK STREET project