Highline High School

With passage of the 2016 bond, we rebuilt Highline High School. School staff, students and community members helped plan and review the design. Take a virtual 360-degree tour of the new school building or review design and construction details. Throughout the process, we shared news updates and monthly progress photos.

Opened: September 2021
Architect: Bassetti Architects
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Skanska

360-degree Views Inside Highline High School

Design & Construction Information

Highline High School staff and community members helped plan, review designs and participated in community meetings. On HHS Alumni Day in May 2019, we said goodbye to the old building and took a group photo. Skanska took over the site in July 2019. Crews completed demolition by the first week of November 2019. Construction moved from the southeast corner to the northwest corner of the site. The new school opened September 2021.

Designs & Plans

Staff and community members rolled up their sleeves and helped with planning and design of the new high school through the HHS Design Review Committee, community meetings and feedback opportunities. Staff helped the architects support the educational specifications in the design. See the design images and read the February 2019 news update:

Architects Share Final Design Details
-- February 2019

Please call 206-631-3002 to request to see the HHS display boards in person or for accessibility assistance.

Northwest corner of new Highline High School, showing 2-story north building and 3-story south building.

Timeline

HHS was hosted at the Olympic Interim School for two years during construction of the new school, starting in fall 2019. Due to the covid pandemic, much of the 2020-21 school year was spent in distance learning. Students returned on schedule to open the new Highline High School on September 2, 2021 with in-person learning.

Planning & Design | February 2017 - February 2019

Bid & Award | February - July 2019

Construction | July 2019 - July 2021

Occupancy | July - August 2021

School Starts | Fall 2021

Background

The original Highline High School was over 90 years old and was identified as a top priority for capital improvements. The building had outdated, failing mechanical systems. Because it was built in and for an earlier era, it is not up to current fire or earthquake codes. The electrical infrastructure cannot support the technology we expect in today’s schools.

Highline had undergone several additions and partial renovations, which extended its use well beyond its expected lifespan. The last renovation, 25 years ago prior to the 2016 bond, remodeled classrooms in the main building but did not address major systems such as heating and plumbing. An independent building evaluation conducted in 2013 found plumbing in poor condition, mechanical systems failing, leaks in sprinkler systems and failing cornice joints, among other issues.

We recognized that the original Highline High School building held a special significance in the community. We selected Bassetti Architects to design the new Highline High School. Bassetti has successfully rebuilt a number of historic schools, including Roosevelt High School, Franklin High School, and Stadium High School.

Here are before and after photos of school projects done by Bassetti Architecture.

HHS Construction Updates

Post RSS Feeds

Student poses on balcony looking over pirate stained glass artwork from old school.

10 Students Voice What a Safe, Modern Building Does for Them

Sep 20 2022

Ten quotes and photos from Highline High School 2022 graduates, and a senior at HHS, help explain the impact and value of learning in a safe, modern high school building.

3 students and mentor with solar panels at Highline High School

HHS Solar Panels Installed; Students Watched Delivery Day

Aug 31 2022

The 100-kilowatt solar panel system is nearly complete on Highline High School. See what it looks like on the roof.

Student holding out volleyball in front of "H" on bleachers

Student Voice: New School Makes Me Feel "Special, Heard and Seen"

Aug 4 2022

"The design of the new school makes me feel special, like we earned the school."

HHS Holds Ribbon Cutting to Mark End of First Year in New School

Jun 29 2022

Read about the HHS Opening Year Celebration & Ribbon Cutting on June 15. Get links to the livestream, more event photos, alumni recollections and the online HHS History Wall!

Photo of sign and north wall of new Highline High School

RSVP: HHS Opening Year Celebration & Ribbon Cutting

Apr 22 2022

You're invited on Wednesday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m. for our ribbon cutting--finally! The HHS Opening Year Celebration will include refreshments and tours of the beautiful new Highline High School designed by Bassetti Architects. The RSVP form includes an opportunity to suggest an alumni speaker and enter a drawing to help cut the ribbon.

Three students speak at school board meeting.

HHS Students’ Solar Dream Wins State Grant & School Board Approval

Feb 2 2022

The idea sparked in Nha Khuc’s brain back in the summer of 2020 during an environmental internship prior to her senior year. “What would it take to put solar panels on the roof of the new Highline High School?”

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