Designed to consolidate two highly disparate schools into one, Bow Lake Elementary School blends the differences of students into a melting pot of educational opportunity. Home to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, the Gifted Program and the English Language Learning Center, representing 66 languages, the school seamlessly intermixes students in four learning communities. Uniquely integrated, students are opened to an opportunity for curiosity and a world of perspective.

Designed to combine the students and programs from each, the two-story, 75,000 SF facility is organized to integrate and celebrate this diversity, enriching and strengthening the educational experience for all. Through numerous planning and design meetings with teachers, staff and parents from both schools, new community was formed and a unified goal for the new school emerged. The new facility houses the district's elementary Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and the Highly Capable Program, and allows for interaction and shared experiences between all students.

The facility provides a centralized administrative area, and offers personalized learning environments by creating “small learning communities” around shared activity areas. There are 6 classrooms clustered around the shared activity room promoting collaboration and hands-on learning. The building further invites students to learn from the surrounding outdoor environment by providing operable glasslike systems in each community that literally blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. The building's layout not only creates independent team areas, but also provides clearly defined, supervisable and logical internal circulation paths throughout the facility. The City of SeaTac will have a community room in the building, which will benefit both the community and students.

Bow Lake reflects all principles of energy conscious design and environmental sustainability. Embracing the natural setting, native, drought resistant landscapes are used to minimize the need for irrigation. Through the use of natural energies, daylighing brings natural light into classrooms and corridors. Occupancy controlled lighting reduces energy usage, and advanced HVAC brings in healthier indoor air at optimum energy efficiency. Building materials consist of non-toxic, low VOC, with an emphasis on local manufacturers and recycled content.

Grades K-5
600 students
74,980 SF
Construction Cost: $20,500,000
Completed 2007