Every building has a useful life span. That life span depends on the physical aspects of the building – the quality and methods of construction and functioning of major systems – as well as the needs of the building users. A building may deteriorate or it may become more costly to maintain. Users may need different spaces for different activities.

The useful life for a school building is affected by how teachers and students work together for learning. As teaching methods change, buildings may also need to change to accommodate them. Current teaching models require more flexibility in class spaces than the one class/one classroom model. Students working together in small groups, for example, can use the shared spaces between classrooms in some of the newest elementary schools in the district.

To ensure that its school buildings are physically sound and meet educational needs, Lake Washington School District, with voter approval, began a systematic modernization program in 1998 to evaluate each school building every 30 to 40 years for potential updating. The program was developed in conjunction with a citizen committee. It divided the district’s schools into four eight-year phases.

What is modernization?
Modernization is a complete remodel/upgrade of a school. It includes all major building systems, such as heating, lighting, electrical, windows and roof. Code compliance and the building’s fit with the educational program are also reviewed. The program addresses only the school building itself, not fields or play equipment.

There are two options for a site’s modernization program: renovating the old building or building an entirely new one. Before any work begins on planning a building modernization, a study determines which option to use. If the cost of renovation is close to or higher than the cost of building an entirely new building, the new building option is chosen over renovation.

When the new building option is chosen, school continues to take place in the old building while a new building is built on site. Classes also continue to be held in schools that are being remodeled. During construction, access to playing fields and some areas of the site as well as building use will be restricted. Following completion of the new building, the old building is razed. This process eliminates the need for school to be moved to temporary classrooms during construction, which is costly.

Determining the modernization program schedule
In 1997, as part of the planning for the 1998 bond measure, Lake Washington School District developed a modernization and construction schedule for all facilities. When planning first began, the logical starting point to help determine phasing was the age of the buildings. However, prior to each bond measure (in 1998 and again in 2006); the district assessed the conditions of the buildings. Condition of buildings then helped to determine the timing of a project within the timeframe of the bond measure. Other factors that contribute to refining the project timeline include the length of the project and the complexity of the project. (The district needs five years to plan and construct a high school whereas only two years are needed to plan and construct an elementary school.)

The full program is detailed below. Projects in phases three and four will be re-evaluated prior to the bond going out to voters to determine the exact order of projects based upon the factors listed above.