Aki Kurose
Aki Kurose Middle School Addition and Modernization Project
About the project
This is a project to demolish 25,000 square feet of the existing school and construct a new approximately 65,000-square-foot classroom wing, and to also modernize 145,000 square feet of the existing school. The result will be permanent space for up to 1,000 student in grades 6-8. The expanded and modernized building will have secure points of entry and will be contextually appropriate and respectful of the surrounding neighborhood.
Funding is included in the Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V) to develop the designs for the project. Funding for the addition and modernization will require voter approval of the next capital levy, Building Excellence VI (BEX VI).
Timeline
- Predesign phase: In progress.
- Schematic design phase: Estimated start, March 2024
- Design development phase: Estimated start, October 2024
- Construction documents and permitting phase: Estimated start, Spring 2025 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Bid and award phase: Estimated start, Winter 2026 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Construction phase: Estimated start, Summer 2026 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Estimated project completion: Summer 2028 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
- Estimated occupancy: Fall 2028 (pending voter approval of capital levy in February 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
School Design Advisory Team (SDAT)
Seattle Public Schools created the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) process to allow each school community to have input into renovation of or construction of their school building. This process provides a means of integrating a school’s vision and educational goals into the design within the structure of the district Educational Specifications (Ed Specs). The result is refinement of the Ed Specs to create school-specific designs that support each school’s educational goals. School leadership, teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members participate in the SDAT through a series of workshops.
Aki Kurose SDAT Members
Aki Kurose Middle School
- Caine Lowery
- Wendy Miller
- Maggie O’Sullivan
- David Nelson
- Susie Clark
- Mike Browne
- Qing Wenes
- Shannon Lindsey
- Kim Coats
- Katrina Hunt
- Dr. Dedy Fauntleroy
Aki Kurose Middle School parents
- Kalayaan Domingo
- Siengkham Douangdala
Aki Kurose Middle School student
- Rene Rivas Domingo
Project Management Team
- Vince Gonzales, Sr. Project Manager
- Brad Tong
- Cheri Hendricks
- Kim Fong
- Jerome Hunter
Design Team
- Amy Vanderhorst
- Sara Wilder
- Parfait Bassale
- Matthew Bissen
- Matthew Sullivan
- Bridgette Tinsley
- Theo Pinceloup
SDAT Workshop Summaries
SDAT 1: February 8, 2024
SDAT 2: March 14, 2024
SDAT 3: March 21, 2024
Community Cafés
These theme-based discussions with staff, families, and community members are facilitated by the project team. Everyone is invited to attend.
Community Cafe 1: Theme — Family Engagement, March 14, 4-5 pm, School Library
Community Cafe 2: Theme — Community Engagement, March 28, 4-5 pm, School Library
Community Cafe 3: Theme — Supporting Students, April 18, 5-6 pm, School Library
Community Cafe 4: Theme — Outdoor Learning and Gathering, May 2, 5-6 pm, School Library
Project Planning Updates
Progress updates are posted for the previous month.
Major activity in February 2024
- Started School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) workshops to collaborate with staff and community members on a vision and goals for the project.
- Developed a community engagement model that conducts outreach beyond the school’s SDAT into a variety of cultural affinity groups within the Aki Kurose community.
Major activity expected in March 2024
- Continued SDAT workshops to develop shared understanding of the school’s values and how those should be translated into the project design.
- Convened two Community Cafe’s to invite the larger community into discussions about how a modernized school could better serve families and community members.
- Organized and led the first site tour of recently completed school projects to help SDAT members see how a re-envisioned school building can support school culture and programs.
- Conducted a staff open house to share project progress with those who are not on the School Design Advisory Team.
- Facilitated student workshops among several cultural affinity groups to ensure that those often-marginalized voices are heard.
Project Team
Construction Management Firm: Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc. (SOJ)
SOJ Construction Manager: Brad Tong, bradt@sojsea.com
Project Design: Integrus Architectecture
General Contractor: Not yet selected