A HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS, 1990

Designed for a former superfund site which later became the site of the Olympic Sculpture Park, this arts magnet high school is designed to be completed gradually, by the students, over a period of years. This concept is expressed through the design organized as a structural framework, in which the walls are made by infill panels. In some places, as at the atrium railings, each graduating class will create a railing infill panel which will commemorate each graduating class in the main space within the school. The various infill panels are designed to reflect the needs of each space to accept or reject natural lighting or solar heat. The design includes mixing students of different disciplines to encourage them to interact and collaborate.

Major Considerations: The design is intended to make good use of natural lighting, solar heating, and natural ventilation. Development of the design included construction physical daylighting models to study shading options and the interior lighting under sunny and cloudy sky conditions. The design is mixed use, with storefront commercial space providing spaces for galleries and artist work spaces along Elliott Avenue.