Menu

Highline Public Schools
15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW Burien,WA 98166

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Highline High School

Northwest Corner of New HHS Design

With passage of the 2016 bond, we will rebuild Highline High School. The new building will open in fall 2021. We are involving the school community of Highline High School in planning and design of their new school through the HHS Design Review Committee, community meetings and feedback opportunities. Planning workshops with staff help the architects support the educational specifications in the design. We will continue to alert you to opportunities to provide community input and respond to the design work. 

Stay Informed

Do you receive our monthly updates? Sign up!

Read our answers to frequently asked questions.

Designs & Plans

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. 

Photos of Progress

Check out photos of our progress starting with planning and community meetings, then the HHS Alumni Day to say goodbye to the old building in May 2019. Demolition began when Skanska took over the site in July 2019. Demolition and construction are moving from the southeast corner to the northwest corner of the site. The new school is scheduled to open fall 2021.

HHS Alumni Day 2019 & Demolition

Group photo of HHS alumni on front lawn on HHS Alumni & Community Day, May 18, 2019.
Skanska sign on fence in front of photo of HHS in the evening with stained glass pirate visible.
Photo of HHS with terracotta removed and %22We've Moved%22 sign on fence.
Crews removing terra-cotta details from HHS.
Crew salvaging terracotta medallions from HHS.
HHS Demolition
Demolition of east side of HHS.

Timeline

HHS will be hosted at the Olympic Interim School for two years during construction of the new school, starting in fall 2019. 

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

Highline High School is over 90 years old and was identified as a top priority for capital improvements. The building has outdated, failing mechanical systems.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 has undergone several additions and partial renovations, which have extended its use well beyond its expected lifespan. The latest renovation, 25 years ago, 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 recognize that the Highline High School building holds a special significance in the community. We have selected Bassetti Architects to design Highline High School. Bassetti has successfully rebuilt a number of historic schools, including Roosevelt High School, Franklin High School, and Stadium High School.

Here you can view before and after photos of school projects done by Bassetti Architecture.

HHS Construction Updates