Mercer
Asa Mercer International Middle School Replacement Project
Mercer International Middle School will be replaced with a new school building on the same campus. The school will be located at the Van Asselt for the 2023-2024 and the 2024-25 school year. (Learn about the construction at Van Asselt to prepare for Mercer.)
Timeline
- Pre-design phase complete
- Schematic design phase complete
- Design development phase in progress
- Construction documents/permitting phase begins Summer 2022
- Bid and award phase begins Summer/Fall 2023
- Construction begins Winter 2023-2024
- School opens Fall 2025
Community Meeting
A virtual community meeting was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
View the recording:
Recent Progress
Regular monthly updates are posted for the previous month the week after the monthly BEXBuilding Excellence Capital Levy provides resources for school construction, renovations, and additions. More and BTABuilding Renovations, Technology and Academic/Athletics Levy provides resources for seismic improvements, roof More Capital Levies Oversight Committee meetings. These meetings typically take place on the first Friday of each month.
Major Activity in June 2022
Responses to the public comments from the Draft SEPA Checklist are in review. The 60% Street Improvement Plan (SIP) was submitted to the city. Coordination is underway with the Seattle Parks Department regarding shared use of the access drive on 16th Avenue S. Design development costs estimates began. The design development phase designs was shared with the SDAT.
Major Activity Anticipated in July 2022
Responses to the Draft SEPA Checklist public comments will be completed. Coordination with Seattle Parks on the access drive will continue. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and SPSSeattle Public Schools will be finalized and sent to DAHP. The 100% design development cost estimates will be completed and reconciliation will begin. Departures comments are expected to be received this month.
About the Project
The existing Asa Mercer Middle School building will be demolished and a new mass timber multi-story middle school building of approximately 174,000 sq. ft. constructed. Once complete, the new school building will provide permanent space for 1,000 students in grades 6–8.
Interim Location: During construction, Mercer International Middle School will be located at the Van Asselt School Interim Site, 7201 Beacon Ave. S. An addition is being constructed at that location to convert it to a site large enough for temporary use by middle schools.
Construction Project Management Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc. (SOJ)
SOJ Construction Manager: Justine Kim, justinek@sojsea.com, 206-838-3706
School Design: Bassetti Architects
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Cornerstone General Contractors
Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEXBuilding Excellence Capital Levy provides resources for school construction, renovations, and additions. More V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.
Budget: $152.5M
Asa Mercer International Middle School
1600 S Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108