In this rendering by McGranahan Architects of Tacoma

In this rendering by McGranahan Architects of Tacoma

First peek at proposed new Port Angeles High School; campus plan could omit gymnasium

PORT ANGELES — A replacement of Port Angeles High School would cost between $99 million and $118 million depending on the outcome of project choices to be decided by the Port Angeles School Board next week.

A full replacement for the 61-year-old school would cost $118 million, while leaving a replacement of the gymnasium out of the work would drop the price to $99 million, Chris Lilley of McGranahan Architects of Tacoma told about 50 people who attended Tuesday’s third and final high school design community forum.

The School Board will meet to hear a Capital Facilities Bond Committee recommendation on the project options at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Jefferson Elementary School, 218 E. 12th St.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The School Board is expected to vote on the final bond amount Nov. 13, which would be sent to voters in February.

Lilley said the $99 million would cover the price of construction of the main school buildings and renovation of the existing auditorium.

McGranahan Architects was hired to design the school-replacement project, and possible designs were unveiled for the first time at Tuesday’s meeting.

The price is slightly higher than similar projects in the Seattle-Tacoma area because of the steeply sloped property and the remote location, Lilley said.

He said construction would be staggered over seven phases as crews build a wing, open new classrooms to students and then demolish vacated buildings and build the next wing in their place.

The preliminary design for the high school is a two-story structure built in roughly a U-shape with a large courtyard between two main classroom wings on the northeast portion of the 39.7-acre sloped campus at 304 E. Park Ave.

The replacement would increase the square footage from 222,000 to 237,000.

Six of the 10 buildings on the campus were built in 1953, two in 1958 and two in 1978.

During a 2007 inspection of the buildings, the structures received scores as low as 25.5 out of a possible 100 score, with the newest structure receiving a 56.4 rating.

Architectural inspiration came from the weaving of the area’s Native American tribes — joining together the city’s history, the community and the future, said Gail Merth, architectural designer.

“We are weaving together the curriculum. We come together and become stronger. The high school weaves together a community,” Merth said.

There would be three major moves from old buildings to new ones, Lilley said, with the final phase of construction finished for students in the fall of 2019.

Demolition and parking areas would be complete by the end of 2019, Lilley said.

The initial design of the high school wraps the school around the existing auditorium, also known as the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center.

The front entrance would open to a student commons that would also serve as a reception area for the auditorium, with stairs to the library.

The auditorium also could be isolated from the rest of the school for community events.

A new gymnasium the same size as the existing one would cost $18 million — about the same as an entire elementary school — and about the same for a complete renovation, which would cost about 90 cents on the dollar comparatively, Lilley said.

If the board chooses to repair only what is legally necessary to bring the building up to seismic and fire codes and meet accessibility requirements, it would cost about 75 cents on the dollar compared with building a new building, he said.

Currently, the gymnasium has three full basketball courts, plus a large addition that can be used for wrestling or other events — considerably more space than most schools of similar size, Lilley said.

Audience members were concerned about the loss of the large venue.

It is the largest indoor space in Port Angeles and hosts many of the city’s largest community events, including nine major basketball tournaments, the KONP Home Show, high school graduations and the All-City Strings concert.

The gymnasium is in use from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. almost daily, said School Board member Sarah Methner.

If the district builds a smaller, less expensive gym, appropriate for the number of students at the school, many of those events may not be possible, Methner said.

Audience members noted that the gym’s activities bring money to the community.

Events at the gym often fill Port Angeles hotels and sometimes overflow to Sequim-area hotels, said Kelly Pearson, district director of finance and operations.

The Port Angeles School District recently received a letter from the Red Lion Hotel in which management said a recent weekend tournament at the gym resulted in a sold-out weekend — about $200,000 in revenue from that hotel alone, Pearson said.

Audience members suggested that the district leave the gym as is and hope that a state school construction fund will reimburse the district with enough cash to refurbish the gym after the rest of the school is complete.

________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Colleen McAleer, Clallam County Economic Development Council
EDC: Retail leads business sectors in Clallam County

$518 million in taxable sales across all industries last year

A yellow oil-containment boom surrounds the 60-foot power cruiser Goldfinch after it sank at the Point Hudson Marina on Saturday. The boat was on its way from Seattle to Anacortes when it started taking on water. It made it to the Point Hudson and struck the breakwater as it entered the harbor but was able to be steered into slip 3, where it immediately sank. Port of Port Townsend staff responded and deployed the hard boom and absorbent material to contain the fuel spill. As of Monday afternoon, about 1,000 gallons of diesel had been recovered by Global Diving and Salvage with 650 gallons from the fuel tanks of the Goldfinch and the remainder being sopped up by absorbent material. The U.S. Coast Guard and the state Department of Ecology responded and performed additional containment. A plan for recovery was in the works, but it wasn’t expected to begin before Wednesday due to weather. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Boat sinks

A yellow oil-containment boom surrounds the 60-foot power cruiser Goldfinch after it… Continue reading

Retired Sheriff Joe Nole pinning interim Sheriff Andy Pernsteiners new badge on, following his appointment at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Jefferson County Sheriff appointed till next election

Commissioners favored stability over change

New Oxford Houses in Port Angeles run into roadblocks

Larger, two-story building may not be approved for program

Bark House confirms reopening date

Open house to be held March 1

Samantha Herik, an EMT with the Port Angeles Fire Department, attaches a poster to the side of her department’s vintage 1956 Seagrave fire truck during a fundraising drive on Saturday in the Swain’s General Store parking lot in Port Angeles. PAFD is collecting donations to rebuild the retired vehicle, known as “No. 5,” with a restored engine and transmission. The truck is used primarily for the annual Operation Candy Cane food bank fundraising drive, along with other promotional purposes. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Donation collection

Samantha Herik, an EMT with the Port Angeles Fire Department, attaches a… Continue reading

Clallam County working with North Olympic Library System to relocate its law library

Expanded access to materials is the goal, administrator says

Director: Department continues to shrink

Public works projects not sustainable, he says

Sequim City Council member Kelly Burger takes the oath of office from City Clerk Heather Robley on Feb. 10 after council members voted to appoint him to replace Kathy Downer. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim council appoints Burger to fill seat

Appointed position goes through certification of 2025 general election

Tristan Lowman.
Clallam Fire District 2 hosts annual recognition banquet

Kate Haworth, Taylor Counts and Tristan Lowman were among… Continue reading

Jefferson County home show set for Saturday

The Home Show sponsored by the Jefferson County Homebuilders… Continue reading

A mobile unit from the Jamestown Healing Clinic in Sequim drives to Clallam Bay on weekdays to provide treatment for 30-40 opioid use disorder patients in the West End. The program started last March. (Jamestown Healing Clinic)
Mobile health clinic treating patients on West End

Number of overdose deaths down, official says