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Seattle Public Schools/Departments/Capital Projects and Planning/School Design and Construction/Projects/Kimball

Kimball

Kimball Elementary School Replacement Project

The existing building is being removed and replaced with a new school building on the same site.

Kimball Elementary has been relocated to the interim site at Van Asselt School, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., for the 2021-22 school year and the 2022-23 school year.

Timeline

construction project progress graphic showing under construction
Learn about each project phase
  • Predesign phase complete
  • Schematic design phase complete
  • Design development phase complete
  • Construction documents/permitting phase complete
  • Bid and award phase complete
  • Construction in progress
  • School opens Fall 2023

Learn what happens during these construction phases

Recent Progress

Progress updates are posted for the previous month the week after the monthly BEX and BTA Capital Levies Oversight Committee meetings. These meetings typically take place on the first Friday of each month.

Major Activity in May 2022

In May, building sheathing and roofing was in progress. Additional concrete was poured. Metal stud framing continued as did installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Installation of the storm water management system was underway.

Major Activity Planned for June 2022

Work continues on roof construction, exterior sheathing, metal stud erection, and MEP. Site work is still in progress.

Live Webcams and Project Progress Photos

You can see the school construction project live on the web cameras!

Kimball Live Webcam
Kimball Live Webcam 2
two buildings under construction are joined in the middle
Aerial view of building B to left and building A to right, May 2022
the roof of a building with roofing materials
Roof installation in progress on building A, May 2022
Exterior of a building under construction. it is yellow
Exterior sheathing and waterproofing installation, May 2022
lower floor of a building under construction with a concrete floor
Slab on metal deck for floor 2 in building A, May 2022
interior of a building under construction with metal and rebar on the floor
Preparing for concrete on floor 3 of building A, May 2022
aerial view of a construction site where a concrete truck is pumping concrete into one side of a building shape
Concrete slab pour for area A – Mar 2022
aerial view of a crane with workers attaching a piece of structural steel
Structural steel installation begins for area A – Mar. 2022
aerial view of structural steel framing being installed on a concrete pad for a large buidling
Structural steel erection underway for area B – Mar. 2022
aerial view - metal roof material on top of a structural steel frame with wood lined rectangle holes
Metal roof deck on area B, with gym skylights being framed – Mar. 2022
aerial view of a large building under construction with a roof and yellow material on walls
Metal roof decking and parapet wall framing on area B – Mar. 2022
aerial view of a construction site with the building shape outlined with concrete walls
Outline of gym and commons building with shallow utilities laid in place – Feb. 2022
aerial view of a construction site with the shape of the building outlined in concrete and building pad preparations between them
Foundation waterproofing and building pad preparation – Feb. 2022
aerial view of a construction site with a concrete pumping truck installing concrete
Concrete installation at the classroom wings – Feb. 2022
aerial view of constrution site with open dirt area and equipment and concrete forms covered in clear materials on the edges
Installing building area B foundation waterproofing and building pad prep – Jan. 2022
aerial view of construction with equipment digging and concrete rectangles
Footing and stem walls for building area A – Jan. 2022
looking into a building site with trees at the back side, short wood wall on left, and people working
Brace frame footing and stem wall in building area A – Jan. 2022
a construction site with various heights and width pipes sticking up from dirt
Electrical rough in in building area B – Jan. 2022
concrete frames with bracing at a constrution site
Radius wall at building area B – Jan. 2022
an aerial view of a construction site that is mostly dirt
Aerial view – Dec. 2021
aerial view of construction site with a curved trnecy with pipes and a concrete frames with concrete in them
Drone view of building area A footing, stem wall, and deep utility installation – Dec. 2021
construction site with tall wooden frames for concrete with a pumper truck behind it
Concrete frames during concrete pour at area B – Dec. 2021
aerial view of a construction site with several rectangular holes lined with wooden frames
Drone view of area A brace frame footings – Dec. 2021
an aerial view of a construction site covered in snow with a cleared street above it and snowy streets around it
Aerial view during December snow – Dec. 2021
construction site several rectangular holes with wooden frames and rebar grids
Area A brace frame footings – Dec. 2021
construction site with concrete walls that have the frames removed
Concrete at area B
A drone view of a large building under construction
Progress on building areas A (classrooms, administration) and B (gym and commons) – April 2022
Part of a building under construction with blue and yellow material on the exterior
Building area B, housing the gym and commons, with sheathing and building wrap started – April 2022
blue material on the outside ofa two story building under construction
Building weather resistant barrier on the gym portion of the school – April 2022
aerial of a building under construction with steel framing
Steel erection completed for building area A – April 2022
a red and white I beam is being signed
Signing the ceremonial (and structural) topping out beam – April 2022
construction site with a concrete pumper above wooden concrete frames
Concrete pour for area B – Dec. 2021
a large stairway inside a building under construction
Building area A learning riser seating and stairs leading up to library – April 2022
a concrete pumper is adding concrete to footing frames at a construction site
Gymnasium and commons concrete floor footing installation – Nov. 2021
a large hole in dirt has black pipes coming up to above what would be ground level
Deep plumbing installation at kitchen area – Nov. 2021
a construction site with a wall form in forground and a digging machine up a slope in the background
Building area B – “back of stage footings and stem wall – Nov. 2021
a concrete box has black pipes coming out of it
Mechanical room manifold for geothermal heating – Nov. 2021
aerial view of a construction site within a neighborhood
Aerial view – Oct. 2021
a flatbed semi truck has a load of wood and other materials on it
Materials salvaged from old building heading to storage – Oct. 2021
a wood wall with steel posts holds about 5 feet of dirt and plants above a construction site
Shoring wall near south building – Oct. 2021
a wood wall with metal posts holds back a hillside next to a flat dirt and gravel field
Shoring wall near north building – Oct. 2021
a metal circle is level with a gravel and dirt field with a small trench all the way around
Elevator shaft cylinder installed – Oct. 2021
a dirt construction site has a hole in the middle with a person working on a wood frame in it. there is a digging machine behind it
Preparing for deep footings – Oct. 2021
a site plan drawing of Kimball Elementary
Site plan of new Kimball Elementary school
a concrete slab with a construction machine
Slab from existing school after building demolition
pile of demoltion debris and a part of a building
Gym demolition
demolition debris and construction equipment
Portable demolition
a concrete slab with dirt surrounding it and houses in the distance
Slab remains from existing school after above ground demolition
aerial photo of a neighborhood with an empty block sized lot
Aerial view – Sept. 2021
a dug up area with a chain link fence that has trees on the other side
Former location of portables – Sept. 2021
two digging machines breaking up concrete next to a concrete stairway
Demolition of the existing building slab – Sept. 2021

About the Project

The new three-story Kimball Elementary School will provide the spaces and resources that students need for academic success. The approximately 95,000 square foot school will meet the district’s elementary educational specifications and provide space for up to 650 students. It is designed to provide an equitable, safe, and inspiring learning environment for all students.

A collaborative process resulted in a plan that preserves valuable outdoor spaces that will be used for both education and recreation. The design is organized into learning clusters with classrooms surrounding learning commons. It will have secure points of entry with visitor access controlled by the administration office.

The new school building was thoughtfully designed to fit into the neighborhood with color choices that reflect natural elements. A canopy will provide a waiting and gathering area near the front entrance.

Sustainable Design and Construction

In keeping with SPS’s clean energy goals, operation of the new school will not require any fossil fuels. In addition, the roof is designed to accommodate solar panels, which could offset 80% of the building’s energy use in the future.

Features to reduce energy use:

  • Geothermal heating
  • Highly efficient ventilation that recovers heat before air leaves the school
  • Energy-efficient LED lighting
  • Highly insulated walls and roofs
  • High performance fiberglass windows

Other sustainable design strategies:

  • Storm water management with rain gardens
  • Native and drought-resistant plantings
  • Shielded site lighting to reduce light pollution
  • Demolition and construction debris sorted and recycled

Design firm: NAC Architecture

Contractor : Cornerstone General Contractors

Project Budget: $86.4M

Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.

Video Tour: View an animated video tour of the new school building from NAC Architecture.