Seattle Public Schools

Student Family Portal
architects drawing of the front of a school with students sitting on benches and walking
Projects
Seattle Public Schools / Departments / Capital Projects and Planning / Projects / Rainier Beach

Rainier Beach

Rainier Beach High School Replacement Project

Latest News

Ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration

The Performing Arts Center is nearing completion and will be ready for students to return to school on September 2.

Join us on Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. as we celebrate the completion of the school replacement project.

About the Project

The Pride of the Rainier Beach Community

The new Rainier Beach High School reflects the history, culture, and diversity of the community while looking to the future. Connected to the surrounding neighborhood, the building serves as both a school and a welcoming gathering place.

The Performing Arts Center, main entrance, and parking lot will be finished and ready for school to start on Sept. 2, 2026. The main building opened in 2025. Work continues on the phase 5 athletics fields through November.

The new building meets the goals set by the community and SPS during the planning process. The school:

  • Supports a strong academic program, with a focus on the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
  • Provides high-quality spaces for athletics and the arts, honoring the school’s long-standing traditions.
  • Creates welcoming, inclusive spaces where every student feels they belong.

Sustainability

Rainier Beach High School exceeds district requirements for clean energy and renewable resources. The project aims for LEED Platinum Certification. This is the highest level of LEED, a well-known rating system for environmentally friendly buildings, used around the world.

Funding Source

Funded by the Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V), approved by Seattle voters in 2019 and the Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V Capital Levy (BTA V), approved by Seattle voters in 2022.

Live Video

Webcam 1
Webcam 2

Phase 3 Complete

Students and Staff Move In

After spring break on April 21, students and staff returned to school in their new, modern building. Occupying this space signifies the end of phase 3, with construction of the Performing Arts Center and athletic fields still to come.

News Story: Rainier Beach Bursts into Spring with New Campus

Rainier Beach new building, front entrance

Completed Classroom and Administration Building

Rainier Beach Workout Room
Rainier Beach Workout Room
Rainier Beach Staircase
Rainier Beach Staircase
Rainier Beach Locker Rooms
Rainier Beach Locker Room
Rainier Beach Library
Rainier Beach Library
Rainier Beach Gym
Rainier Beach Gym
Rainier Beach Commons
Rainier Beach Commons
Rainier Beach Classroom
Rainier Beach Classroom

You can contact SPS in your own language through the online feedback form

Timeline

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Construction phase PreDesign > Schematic Design > Design Development > Construction Documents/Permitting > Bid & Award Contracts > Construction > Open
Learn about each project phase
  • Predesign phase complete
  • Schematic design phase complete
  • Design development phase complete
  • Construction documents/permitting phase in progress
  • Bid and award phase complete
  • Phased construction: April 2022-December 2026
    • Phase 4 in progress — Performing Arts Center
    • April 2026: Begin phase 5 construction — athletic fields
    • August 2026: Complete phase 4 — Performing Arts Center
    • November 2026: Complete phase 5 — athletic fields

Construction Progress Photos

Construction Progress Photos

These slides show the project as construction proceeds.

a truck with a tall drill attached and people working
Phase 1 – Installing geothermal wells for heating and cooling – Summer 2022
a person stands in a trench with a ladder in the trench nearby
Connecting geothermal wells located beneath the future practice field
a large frame work is being installed over an area with large rocks
Installing temporary construction tent – Dec. 2022
a tall drill machine with a person in a hard hat stands in a muddy field
Geothermal well installation continues – Dec. 2022
metal forms stand on edge in dirt under a giant tent with lights. construction workers are using equipment
Trenching and rough-in for deep underground utilities – Jan. 2023
a vast spread of a rebar cage with workers adding more
Rebar is prepared for the concrete slab foundation
concrete mixer trucks lined up on a drive way among mud puddles
42 cement trucks delivered about 415 cubic yards of concrete – April 5, 2023
two cement mixer trucks are backed into openings in a large white tent
Two trucks at a time into the tent – April 5, 2023
a worker in a safety vest and hardhat is smoothing concrete in a large flat area
Concrete must be leveled and smoothed after placement – April 5, 2023
under a large tent, white waterproofing material has a stack of electrical conduit placed in a guie frame with rebar beneath it
Waterproofing, rebar, and electrical conduit for inside of concrete slab foundation – March 2023
a grid of rebar is at the bottom, a group of workers in hardhats and safety vests stands in the center, a concrete pump is in the back with a large tent structure over it all
Pouring additional foundation mat slabs – May 2023
a crane is lifting a large frame piece from a structure of pipes
Disassembling the construction tent – May 2023
a steel frame is being built on top of a concrete floor. a crane is on the left side
Steel erection began on the east part of the new school – August 2023
a steel frame has a large delivery trailer in front of it with bent steel on it
Steel erection underway with steel stair sections being delivered – August 2023
steel framing for a building with a crane
Four floors of steel erected; new gym will attach to this structure – Sept. 2023
A building under construction with a few people
Placing concrete slabs on metal decking – Sept. 2023
A group of men in orange vests and helmets working on a construction site
Starting roof on Skills Center building – Sept. 2023
a four story steel frame for a large building with construction cranes, lifts, and other machines
South side of new 4-story classroom building which will overlook the football field – Oct. 2023
metal framing in progress on a large steel framed building
Exterior metal framing on Skill Center part of classroom building – Oct. 2023
a concrete truck is pumping concrete to the third floor of a steel framed four-story building under construction
Placing concrete on the 3rd floor metal deck – Oct. 2023
A building is wrapped in white material with a hole for a door.
Skills center building wrapped in weatherproofing to allow exterior work to continue – Nov. 2023
inside a large building under construction with no walls yet
Installing light gauge metal stud framing and hollow metal door frames – Nov. 2023
two workers in construction safety equipment are on a lift holding green sheets of material against studs
Beginning placement of water resistant wall board – Nov. 2023
a four-story steel frame rises above the soil at a construction site
Classroom building steel structure and metal decks complete – Dec. 2023
a four story frame of building has part of it wrapped in white material at a muddy construction site
Exterior metal stud framing on the north side of the classroom building – Dec. 2023
a concrete floor with steel framing and a view out the side showing it is up high
Fourth floor concrete slab on metal deck complete – Dec. 2023
looking out through structural steel framing with metal studs on a building under construction
Exterior metal framing installation for the gymnasium – Feb. 2024
a large stairway under construction in a building under construction
One of the central stair sections through the atrium – Feb. 2024
a two story interior space under construction with large pipes in the ceiling
Skill Center aerospace metal shop space – Feb. 2024
a room with a window has wallboard that is taped but not painted and construction equipment in the room
First floor classroom prepared for paint primer – Feb. 2024
exterior of a 2, 3, and 4 story building under construction with materials in the foreground
View of south side looking east – Feb. 2024
a 4-story building under construction has metal framing and the bottom floor has yellow sheathing
South side of the new building – March 2024
Interior of a building under construction with metal framing. metal ductwork pieces are stacked on the floor
Interior framing continues, looking into main building from gymnasium – March 2024
a room with two large windows is under construction with pink insulation around the windows and metal framing on the right wall
Classroom in progress – March 2024
a four story building under construction with metal framing and some yellow wall covering. two lifts and workers are visible
Exterior framing on the west side of the new building – March 2024
part of a larg building with openings for windows. workers have stacks of bricks next to them as they install them
Masonry installation started on north side – Apr. 2024
a building under construction has yellow material and plastic on it. a red track is in front.
View of the south side of the new building with the gym on the left – Apr. 2024
inside a building under construction with metal framing. a lift has a person lifted two the ceiling of the multi-story space
Preparing for ceiling painting and wallboard placement – Apr. 2024
an angled yellow wall with plastic framing with workers on scaffolding
Exterior deck overlooking the bleachers and football field – Apr. 2024
a four story building with lots of window openings is under construction
Blue metal wall paneling being installed on the north side – May 2024
2 levels of brick wall with 2 more stories above. there are windows on each floor with some filled with windows and some open or covered in plastic
Windows and masonry bricks being installed on the north side – May 2024
interior of a large stairway going up ina large open space
Main stairway with 2nd floor railings installed – May 2024
a celing has skylights framed in above a concrete floor with construction materials
Skylights installed on main roof with framing going on floor 4 – May 2024
a hallway under construction has utility runs in ceiling and wall board being placed on walls
Gypsum wallboard being installed with mechanical, plumbing, and electrical rough in underway – May 2024
looking toward a green turf field with markings for yard lines a building under construction is in front with a tiered wall
Synthetic turf installed for football field with home bleacher framing to the right – June 2024
interior of a building under construction looking up toward skylights several floors above. there are metal studs and railings on the side and a lift is raised to the top floor walls
Looking up toward the skylights with steel framing, insulation, wallboard, and painting in progress – June 2024
part of a long 4-story building under construction with a lift truck and people working on the windows
Front of the new building with windows and bricks going up – June 2024
part of a 4-story building under construction with multiple windows. the top two floors have blue metal paneling, there is brick on the other two floors
Metal siding, brick, and windows on the north side – June 2024
exterior of a building under construction with a canopy being installed in the middle of a gravel lot
Skills Center yard with canopy – Aug. 2024
a building under construction with people working on a scafforld on the third level
Masonry and windows over the press box and bleacher frames – Aug. 2024
a roof with a very large solar panel
Photovoltaic array installed on the roof – Aug. 2024
a large space under construction with blue tiles on the wall and construction materials in the room
Main kitchen and servery with tile floor and wall tile – Aug. 2024
inside of a large room under construction with construction materials and equipment
Main gymnasium insulation, wallboard, and painting – Aug. 2024
outside of a brick building under construction with scaffolding
Main and auxiliary gym exterior – Aug. 2024
a large space with cabinetry and a white board and a ceiling grid
Classroom mock up – Sep. 2024
a large room with bright blue tile walls and metal kitchen equipment
Main kitchen with equipment installed – Sep. 2024
inside a very large room with zig zag rafters and construction equipment and ceiling lights
Main gym painted with lights – Sep. 2024
looking toward a building with construction equipment in front over a green turf field marked for football
View to south side of new building – Sep. 2024
a building under construction with concrete bleachers under construction in front and a frame for a roof over part
Bleachers and canopy frame on south side – Sep. 2024
a canopy on steel posts in a gravel yard with a building under construction behind it
North side of phase 3 building – Sep. 2024
looking across an artificial turf football field toward a building with blue and orange siding
South side of building – Jan. 2025
site work with a graded road bed and curb with a building to the left and some construction underway
Site work on the north side of the school – Jan. 2025
workers are laying pavers on a patio that overlooks a football field
2nd floor exterior patio pavers – Jan. 2025
a sanding machine sites on a hardwood floor
Sanding the floor in the auxiliary gymnasium – Jan. 2025
cafeteria under construction with orange stripes on walls and an atrium ceiling
Main atrium area in cafeteria with library at upper left – Jan. 2025
a large open room with cabinets around the edges and power strips hanging from the ceiling
Nearly complete upper floor science classroom – Jan. 2025
nearly complete central space with colored floor tiles forming square that is under the atrium
3rd floor central area finishes – Jan. 2025
looking up a large stairway
Precast stairway and railing in central atrium – Feb. 2025
a large room with counters spread evenly thorugh the middle and counters along one side
Career and Technical Education bio-med classroom – Feb. 2025
a room with counders on both sides and a window into a room with a green screen
Broadcast booth with a view into the broadcast studio – Feb. 2025
acoustical baggles in the bay of a ceiling next to windows
Acoustical ceiling baffles in library – Feb. 2025
a gymnasium with plywood floor
Plywood underlayment in main gymnasium – Feb. 2025
a hardwood floor in a gymnasium
Final striping and finish of auxiliary gymnasium – Feb. 2025
a canopy over outside bleachers is being painted
Painting the bleacher canopy – Feb. 2025
a paved road next to a brick wall
Asphalt paving passes the Skills Center on north side – Feb. 2025
two workers installing signage on a curb
Signage installation near rear entrance – Aug. 2025
a portion of an 8-lane running track
Running track complete – Sept. 2025
a small building behind a chain link fence with a track inside the fence
Visitor ticketing and concessions – Sept 2025
a structural steel frame with a crane in the background and a blue building behind it
Structural steel for Performing Arts Center from future parking lot, Dec. 2025
a crane is lifting steel beams onto a building frame
Structural steel being installed for Performing Arts Center, Dec. 2025
a concrete floor with structural steel installed for the ground floor
Performing Arts Center concrete and structural steel, Dec. 2025
a gravel and mud ground is shown in front of a blue building with a partially built structure next to it. The corner of a running track is to the left.
Work underway to install ramp to second level main entry, Dec. 2025
workers installing metal stud framing within a structural steel frame very high off the ground.
Exterior metal stud framing, Performing Arts Center – Jan. 2026
a worker on a scaffold is spraying material on steel framing
Installing fire-proofing material – Jan. 2026
a large room under construction with tiers for theater seating
Performing Arts Center theater seating – Jan. 2026
a muddy field with construction fencing in the foreground with a blue building in the background that has construction on one end
Work begins for the ramp to the main entry – Jan. 2026

Project Designs

Architects renderings of the new school

drawing of a large three story building with a walkway leading to it between trees
Architect drawing of new main entry facing S. Henderson St.
a drawing of a site plan that includes a building and playfields
Site plan for replacement project
drawing of an interior hallway
Theater lobby
drawing of the interior of a theater with a stage and tiered seating
Theater
drawing of a gym with bleachers and orange and blue accents
Gymnasium
drawing of common area with windows looking out from the floor above
Dining commons looking toward gym
large common area with dining tables and stairs; a room with glass windows looking out toward below says LIBRARY
Library and dining commons
drawing of a track and field in front on of a large building
Track and field
drawing of a small group area with a room next to it that has blue walls
4th floor small group area
drawing of a walkway with railings that look down to the floor below
4th floor commons looking down
drawing of an open space with seating and a wall mural
3rd floor east commons
drawing of a library with bookshelves and seating
Library located on 2nd floor
drawing of dining commons with lunch tables
1st floor dining commons

Community Involvement

School Design Advisory Team (SDAT)

Early in the design process, representatives from the school community come together to form a school’s SDAT. SDATs typically include school and district staff, parents, students, and community members. The project construction managers also take part. Due to the timing of the Rainier Beach SDAT, meetings were held virtually. Read more and review the meeting minutes.

Project Team

Design Firms: Bassetti Architects/Moody Nolan

Project Management Firm: Parametrix

General Contractor: Lydig Construction

Contact Us

Let’s Talk Comments and Questions Form

Rainier Beach High School
8815 Seward Park Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98118

School Website

School Profile