Seattle Public Schools

Student Family Portal
Projects
Seattle Public Schools/Departments/Capital Projects and Planning/School Design and Construction/Projects/Montlake

Montlake

Montlake Elementary Modernization and Addition Project

The existing school building will be modernized and an addition will be built.

Montlake Elementary has moved to the John Marshall School interim site, 520 NE Ravenna Boulevard, for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Construction phase
Learn what happens during these project phases

Timeline

  • Pre-design phase complete
  • Schematic design complete
  • Design development phase complete
  • Construction documents/permitting phase in progress
  • Bid and award phase complete
  • Construction in progress
  • School opens Fall 2025

Project Progress

Milestone Reached — Topping Out Ceremony

Placing the final beam on a steel structure is celebrated as the “topping out” of a new building. The topping out ceremony for the new addition at Montlake Elementary School took place on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. Photos and a video are below.

2 people stand on a steel-framed structure
Ironworkers await the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
a person in a safety jacket and hard hat leans forward to write on a white painted steel beam
Project Manager Paul Wight signs the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
a short person and a tall person wear construction safety vests and hard hats while standing in front of part of a steel beam painted white. handwriting on the beam says "thank you SPS voters, Julia Pearson"
Montlake Principal Julia Pearson and Capital Projects and Facilities Director Richard Best at beam signing – Mar. 7, 2024
2 people stand on a red, white, and blue beam on one corner of a steel framed structure. they are shaking hands. an evergreen tree is on one end and a United States flag is on the other.
Congratulatory handshake on placement of final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
2 people on top of a steel structure on each side of a red, white and blue beam that has an american flag and an evergreen tree on it
Ironworkers bring the beam into place – Mar. 7, 2024
a steel beam is being slung into place at the top of a steel framed building by a crane . Two people wait on top of the existing structure
Flying in the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
a group of people in construction safety vests and hats stand in front of a steel beam with a steel framed structure behind
Project crew with the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024

Watch the video of the final steel beam being put into place.

Live Video

Camera 1

Camera 2

Construction Photos

a two story brick building has windows on the top floor. an excavator is sitting below it on a concrete pad with only two walls remaining. a dumpster is next to the concrete
Demolishing the old gym where it attached to the landmarked building – August 2023
a two story brick building has had something removed over a concrete pad
Existing outdoor play area demolition in progress – August 2023
a brick building with construction in progress on the outside
Shoring the existing west side of the school – Sept. 2023
a construction site with material on the ground
Excavation on the south side of the building – Sept. 2023
aerial view of a construction site next to a building
Aerial view in October 2023
a brick building has wood in the window holes and construction next to it
Concrete forms and rebar for new footing next to historic building – Oct. 2023
inside of a building partially torn up with posts and beams with some windows covered in wood and some open
Interior demolition on the first floor of the landmarked building – Oct. 2023
Aerial view of a construction site with a brick building at one end and streets all the way around
Project view with excavation in process, looking northwest – Nov. 2023
rebar trench next to a brick building
Concrete form work and rebar placement for new footing – Nov. 2023
aerial view of a construction site with a brick building at one end and a view of a lake in the distance
Aerial site view looking northwest – Dec. 2023
at brick building with boarded up windows sits in a construction site with a concrete wall in front
Concrete retaining wall complete on west side of historic building – Dec. 2023
a construction site has a concrete pump truck installing concrete in a form
Placing concrete stem wall, looking west – Dec. 2023
an excavator sites on dirt with a trench that has wide concrete forms with rebar and concrete pump nozzle leading into it.
Pumping concrete into concrete footing forms with rebar – Dec. 2023
aerial view of a construction site surrounded by streets and houses with a lake and a stadium in the distance
Looking north with Husky Stadium in background – Feb. 2024
aerial showing a rectangular brick building with construction happening behind it including a crane
Looking east with the landmarked building in the foreground and the new steel structure in progress behind – Feb. 2024
a steel framework for a 3 story building with a crane partially showing in the foreground
Steel erection for the new addition – Feb. 2024
a long room with rafters showing and a concrete wall next to some windows
Concrete sheer wall for seismic upgrades in the landmarked building – Feb. 2024

Construction Update

Progress updates are posted for the previous month.

Major activity in March 2024  

  • Completed structural steel for the addition.
  • Poured the concrete for the learning terrace.
  • Continued to modernize the landmarked building.

Major activity expected in April 2024

  • Begin construction of the new gymnasium building.
  • Start putting the roof on the new building.
  • Continue work on the landmarked building.
  • Continue framing the outside of the new building.

In May, the crane will return for some additional construction work.

Read the Neighborhood News Update

Current Designs

These images show architect’s drawings of how the new school might look.

architect's drawing of a large interior space with a stage and some round tables
Potential view of the commons and stage-Oct 2022
a site plan drawing of a u-shaped building with a courtyard
Site plan for proposed addition and existing building – Oct. 2022
architect's drawing of a brick building with a side walk and garden
Architect’s drawing of the new entrance – June 2023
architect's drawing of a brick building with a courtyard and playground equipment
Architect’s drawing of play area – June 2023

Community Participation

Virtual community update — December 2022

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Community Meeting Presentation

You can always submit additional questions to Let’s Talk. Select Montlake Construction to ensure it comes directly to the Montlake project team.

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, and community members. Students are sometimes included for all or part of the process. The project construction managers also take part. Learn more about the Montlake Elementary School SDAT.

Virtual Community Meeting – June 2022

Thank you to all who could join us for the community update on Thursday, June 2.

Community Update Presentation-June 2022

About the Project

The 2-story existing school building is a designated Seattle Landmark. The 22,447 square-foot landmarked building will be renovated and modernized.

The proposed design includes renovations to the existing landmarked building and construction of a new 3-story addition.

Designed for current and future students

Once complete, the school will provide an equitable learning space for up to 500 K-5 elementary students. It will meet district educational standards while reflecting the input from the school design advisory team comprised of school leaders, students, parents, and community members.

The addition will be set into the site with a roofline height that respects the scale of the current school building and neighborhood.

  • Accessibility will be built in throughout the campus to ensure everyone can attend or visit the school.
  • Classrooms will be arranged with a variety of shared learning spaces to support academic success for every student.

Safety and security

Students, families, and visitors will be welcomed through a new entry plaza on the northeast side of the of the addition.

Visitors will enter through a single access point, the secure main entrance that invites them into the administrative office for check-in before entering the school.

Outdoor connections

New outdoor learning spaces will be constructed on the east side of the landmarked school building. A central play courtyard will provide a direct connection to the garden terraces. A second-floor learning and play terrace will directly connect to classrooms.

Building a sustainable future

Sustainable design features will be built in to work toward the
district goals for clean energy and renewable resources, including a high-performing building envelope and the installation of solar panels.

Temporary Move — 2023-24 and 2024-25 School Years

Montlake Elementary School will move to the John Marshall School interim site, 520 NE Ravenna Blvd, during construction. School bus transportation will be provided.

More information

Design Firm: DLR Group

General Contractor/Construction Management Firm (GC/CM): Skanska

Project Budget: $64.8 million

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

Project Manager: Paul Wight, pdwight@seattleschools.org, 206-252-0648

Contact

For questions or comments about the project, please use our online feedback form

Montlake Elementary School
2409 22nd Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112