by Brianna Crandall — November 15, 2010—Lynnwood High School in Bothell, Washington, recently received the 2010 James D. MacConnell Award for school facility planning excellence from the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI). Competing against extraordinary school architecture from around the world, Lynnwood High School clearly demonstrates excellence in planning, design and construction, and focuses on the needs of the educational program and the concept of Whole School/Whole Student, said CEFPI.
The Edmonds School District and the firm of Bassetti Architects of Seattle, Washington, led a collaborative planning process to transform Lynnwood High School from a crumbling 1960s campus style school to an exemplary sustainable school, addressing the needs of 21st century learning, says CEFPI. It was designed to achieve LEED Silver, and is expected to exceed the Washington State energy code requirements by 50 percent. Three primary themes shaped the school: student learning, community enhancement and sustainability.
Nestled on a 40-acre forested site, Lynnwood boasts water retention and wetlands areas, outdoor learning areas and first-class athletic fields. The new school also features daylit classrooms and a gathering place called “the Agora,” the Greek word for marketplace, where students and recent graduates congregate.
Flexible learning spaces include conference rooms, classrooms, laboratories, studios, theaters and gyms. Green practices address energy efficiency, waste reduction, indoor air quality, natural ventilation, daylighting and urban agriculture, and are all visible to the students and community alike. Athletic fields, parking and support facilities were enhanced for community use.
