Schematic Design

We are almost at the end of the "Schematic Design" phase and the overall layout, program areas and site elements are set. This puts us on schedule for the upcoming Conditional Use Permit submittal to Snohomish County next week and to proceed with refinements to the design during the next phase, "Design Development."

Click on the images below to see the site plans, floor plans and perspective renderings for each school, which were presented, discussed and met with overall approval by the Design Committee on Tuesday.

Machias Elementary School, Schematic Design:


Riverview Elementary School, Schematic Design:

Final Predesign Scheme Selected for Each School

On Tuesday, the architects presented the final Predesign versions of the two selected schemes for each school site to the Ed Spec Committee. The schemes had been further refined based on input from the committee and site requirements.

The Ed Spec Committee unanimously chose the "Elemental Flow" scheme for Riverview and the"Nature Path" scheme for Machias. Click on the images below for a PDF of the revised scheme for each option:

Riverview Elementary School Selected Scheme: "Elemental Flow":

Machias Elementary School Selected Scheme: "Nature Path":

On Wednesday 11/5/08, the architects and Ed Spec Committee presented these selected schemes to the School Board and explained the committee's process.

October 22nd Meeting Notes

Meeting notes from the Ed Spec Committee Meeting on October 22nd are available here. At this meeting, 3 revised schemes were presented for each school. The committee deliberated and chose the 2 schemes for each school (shown below) for further refinement. At the next meeting, these selected schemes will be re-presented for a final scheme decision.

Site Layout Options

The Ed Spec Committee has reviewed various layout options for each site as presented by NAC Architecture. After receiving input from the committee, the architects revised the schemes and re-presented them for further comment. The committee has identified the two preferred options for each school: the "Schoolstead" and "Nature Connection" schemes for Machias and the "3 Parks" and "Elemental Flow" schemes for Riverview.

The architects are currently refining these 4 schemes, based on additional input from the committee at their last meeting. The final stage of the Predesign phase will be the selection of one scheme for each site and presentation to the School Board on November 5th. Then during the Schematic Design Phase, the selected scheme for each site will receive further input and refinement.

Click on the images below for a PDF of each option, including relevant points for each option and diagrammatic plans for the 1st and 2nd floors:

Machias Elementary School Option: "Schoolstead"

Machias Elementary School Option: "Nature Connection"

Riverview Elementary School Option: "3 Parks"

Riverview Elementary School Option: "Elemental Flow"

Please feel free to post comments regarding any of these options.

Riverview Community Meeting

Last night a Community Meeting was held at the Riverview Elementary School Library to gather public input on the project. About 30 people attended, representing a vibrant mix of neighbors, parents, teachers, staff and project team members.

You can read notes from the meeting here.

Project Schedule

The Ed Spec Committee has agreed to target an accelerated schedule, which will enable the new schools be complete and moved into the new buildings in January 2011 (instead of August 2011). The accelerated schedule also benefits the Valley View Middle School project, by allowing the middle school to occupy the interim site earlier, which will save on projected construction cost escalation. Students and staff from both Machias and Riverview are scheduled to occupy the interim site for a year and a half, from the end of school in June 2009 until school resumes at the end of Winter Break in January 2011.

The targeted schedule is shown below. If the committee feels that the quality of the final school projects may be compromised due to the acceleration, the schedule will revert to the longer duration. It is understood that factors outside of the project team's control (permitting times, weather, etc.) may also impact the schedule, pushing the move-in date back to Summer 2011.

Here is the draft schedule in graphic format (click to enlarge):

Drainage Field Locations

One of the items that will require planning as we move forward is the drainage field at each site. We will study reusing the existing drain fields or relocating them to accommodate the best location for the building at each school.

A surveyor will determine the actual existing locations, but below are aerial photos showing their approximate locations.