School Tour Spotlights Progress and the New Tyee Design
Board members Azeb Hagos, Stephanie Tidholm and Joe Van toured the new Tyee High School construction site on June 7. They invited a couple of alumni who volunteer with Friends of Tyee, as well as Joe's wife Leslee Barrington Van (Class of 1995, same as Joe).
In the words of Robin Foster Adams (Class of 1971): “It was the cat’s meow, and Mt. Rainier was on display from every view!”
Safety & Security Enhanced
Stephanie Knox Nichols (Class of 1967) was all smiles and said she liked some of the ways the new school will increase safety and security.
All the buildings will be connected as one facility with limited entry points and interior automatic locking classroom doors. The classroom wing on the northeast will be able to be closed off after hours from the other performing arts, athletics and community spaces. The connection with Chinook Middle School via the existing stairway will be retained, which supports access by Chinook students to some of the music and active learning spaces after hours.
Tour & Progress
The group toured the flexible performing arts space in the southwest corner of the site, and walked through first-level classrooms, past the new gym and through the beginning of the cafeteria/commons area.
The flexible Performing Arts Space will have retractable seating.
More than 75% of the structural steel columns and beams are installed.
Walls, masonry and mass timber features are emerging.
The last shipment of steel arrived and will be erected over the next month in the building pad area where the front of the new school will face South 188th Street. This area will house the library and administrative offices.
The heart of the new school will be the courtyard. The interior spaces will capitalize on natural daylight with views to the landscape.
Tyee Drills Down 350 Feet to Heat and Cool
In the old football field, three rigs are busy drilling 240 wells that each descend 350 feet below ground. When connected to an electric pump with supply and return pipes, the wells will create a geothermal ground loop, to heat or cool the new facility. A new synthetic turf field and track will be constructed above ground.
More Photos
Aerial Photo: June 3, 2024
View of space where the commons/cafeteria will be constructed with mass timber beams and lots of windows.
Architect with Integrus points out that viewers are looking at where the commons area of the building will be constructed with a view of the courtyard.
Looking west into the main gym -- roof is coming still.
Highline School Board Directors Joe Van, Azeb Hagos and Stephanie Tidholm (left to right).