SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Loyal Heights Elementary School

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Loyal Heights Elementary School

Project: BEX IV: Loyal Heights SDAT Workshop No. 5
Meeting No.: 05
Date: January 8, 2015 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: JSCEE

MEETING MINUTES

ATTENDEES Representing

Name PE Specialist
Admin Asst.
X Laura Payton SPED
X Kathy Katzen 1st Grade Teacher
X Loy Dahl 3rd Grade Teacher
X Andrea Wilson 3rd Grade Teacher
X Megan Ware K Teacher
X Katherine Gaffney PTA Board
X Andrea Colwell Parent (K & 3rd)
X Steve Nesich Parent (2nd)
X Nicole Sippos Parent (1st & future K)
X John Moshy Parent (2nd & future K)
x Chris DeGracia Parent (K)
X Ryan Haines Principal
X Michelle Arab Seattle Public Schools; Capital Sr PM
X Wayne Floyd BLRB Architects
X Eric Becker BLRB Architects
X David Pool BLRB Architects
X Lee Fenton Heery International; CM
X Andy Cottrill BLRB Architects
X Steve Moore
x Jonah Jensen

Additional Distribution Company Initials

Name Heery

BEX IV Project File

Page 1 DPD Meeting Minutes No. 016 –06/26/2014

Mtg – Item CORRECTIONS TO PREVIOUS MEETING Responsibility Deadline

Info Discussion / Action Item Responsibility Deadline

Mtg – Item None

Info OLD BUSINESS

Discussion / Action Item

None

Mtg – Item INTRODUCTION Responsibility Deadline
Deadline
Info Discussion / Action Item

Mtg – Item Meeting will cover two areas;
1) Guiding Principal Recap
Info 2) Design Charette

AGENDA TOPICS

Discussion / Action Item Responsibility

Guiding Principals
Reviewed the 8 Guiding Principals and feedback from the committee;
1)Learner Centered Environment,
2)Personalized Environment,
3)Program Adaptability ,
4)Community Connection,
5)Aesthetics,
6)Safety,
7)Collaboration, and
8)Sustainability
(note see attachment for comments on these Principals received from SDAT)
Additional comments during the principal reviews;

 Want a detailed discussion on the classroom; what is on the walls,
tackable wall surface, markable wall surfaces, storage, sliding walls

 Maximizing playground space, concern that much of space will be lost due
to addition

 Exploration space, want a space that kids can explore

 Important factor is the “re-purposed” spaces, the need for flexibility

 Direct secure access from commons to the playground

 Functional PTA space

 Aesthetic and Sustainability go hand in hand

 Long term durability and quality is a concern

 Importance of proper lighting

 Year round play surface at field

 Safety concern with building access.

 Bus and Parent drop off separated.

 Reinforce recycling throughout building

 Space for drama collaborated with other spaces, bleachers to maximize
seating.

Questions;
 Purchasing Library books, are new books provided? Ans: There is a

Page 2 DPD Meeting Minutes No. 016 – 06/26/2014

Curriculum budget to fund text and library books.
 Is a parking garage an option, to provide some parking on-site but not

impact site coverage? Ans: parking garages are very expensive and
probably would not be cost effective.
 How do we keep the building secure? Ans: Lock down system at front
door is standard practice. Keeping other perimeter entrances secure is a
management issue but most exterior doors have to have panic hardware
for code egress requirements. Classroom doors? Will look at locking
options but the key security point if the front door.

Info Design Charette Comments; (note these are partial comments as several
conversations were occurring during review)
 BLRB studied the building and site and presented 3 schemes to begin the
discussion.
1) 2 story option which covered much of the site
2) In-fill scheme that inserted student commons at core of building.
Classrooms at core would look into the commons and share natural light
feed from skylights.
3) Courtyard space created with 3 story revision to existing building.
Provides direct natural light to all classrooms. After informal vote,
preferred option.
 Bus and Parent drop off should be kept separate one on 25th the other
26th. Look at pull out lane to accommodate.
 Preference was for classrooms to have exterior windows.
 Concern with courtyard and usability due to sunlight, need to explore sun
study due to height of addition to south.
 Access to playground is critical
 Service yard away from main entry
 Joined Gym/Commons gives the most versatile space.
 Concern with security at entries, lock down system
 Administration location proposed is good.
 Library location proposed is good. Want computer rooms adjacent to
library and direct access to outside is good.
 How are the lower mechanical spaces to be used? Are we missing an
opportunity not utilizing? Need to explore.
 Parking off-site, can 77th be angled parking to maximize. Conflicts with
SPU rain garden project, SM has discussed with SPU.
 Roof gardens/Green roofs, plus both sustainable and educational. Raise
garden beds with railings on portion of roof. Green roofs would not be
accessible just functional for storm water mitigation.
 PV panel locations; building is PV ready which means has infrastructure
for PV panels. Best location would be on the Gym and Commons with
southern exposure.
 BLRB examined the 3rd floor classroom location due to western sun being
at the courtyard or to the east. The classroom to the courtyard side does
align circulation layout on lower floors so there is common building
circulation flows.
 Having covered play adjacent to bus loading is a bonus, provide protective

Page 3 DPD Meeting Minutes No. 016 – 06/26/2014

waiting area.

 Learning commons; breakout spaces at different areas of building.
Discussion to continue but like the spaces that size can adjust with
operable walls.

 Can we address ADA access on 80th? The ADA access would be at the
main entry and entry off of 26th. This is due to the elevation change at
80th into building.

 Create hallway between Commons and Gym for playground. But this
access hallway can be incorporated into the larger spaces when partition

door to Gym is opened.

Next meeting: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 @ 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

ATTACHMENTS / RELATED DOCUMENTS

No. Item Dated Action Required

None

END OF MINUTES: The above summarizes the Seattle Public School’s interpretation of the items discussed and decisions reached

during this meeting. Additions or corrections above must be submitted in writing to the author within three days of receipt;
otherwise the minutes will stand as written.

Page 4 DPD Meeting Minutes No. 016 – 06/26/2014

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
1. Learner Centered Environment

Students’ learning is at the heart of the school.

- Classrooms built to minimize distractions - quiet floors - high win-
dows to reduce distraction - lockers in hallway - quiet ventillation -
variety of storage options

- Centrally located gymnasium, lunch room, library, etc.

- Bathrooms with sinks in hallway - close to classrooms

- Integration of learning throughout school / hallway ( posters -
interactive activities on walls... etc.)

- Classrooms grouped together by grade level

- Doors between classrooms with 1/2 window

- Technology - Flexible with long term view

- Flexibility in infrastructure - wet labs that can become dry labs if
needed

- Having universal spaces.

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

2.Personalized Environment

Each student is known well and cherished by adults and other stu-
dents in the school.

- Lots of hallway space to display student work - Tackable Walls

- Inviting office that is accessible to students

- Design of classroom - overlapping white boards - book cases un-
der windows - white boards on other walls - tackable surfaces -
whole wall magnetic wall / white board -- tackable and acoustic - op-
tions

- Need a good logo

- Playground -- scale, “corners” -- appropriately sized and having
corners or other areas that the kids can personalize and use in cre-
ative ways.

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
3.Program Adaptability

The school’s programs are tailored to individual student needs and
talents and make use of a variety of learning tools.

- Community space shared by classrooms for tutors and others to
work with students (off hallway, movable walls, etc...)

- Movable bookcases in library

- Stage that can be viewed from lunch room and gym for assemblies
and night time events

- Work rooms with good copiers in multiple locations throughout
building for ease of access

- a building that can change as the population changes - layout
needs to be flexible allowing for flex in number of classrooms/grade
without excluding any classroom from the rest of its grade level
grouping.

- all spaces need to be easily re-purposed.

- Cafeteria exit to playground with conveniently located restrooms

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
4.Community Connections

The community is involved, informed and visible in promoting a
rigorous academic learning environment, and encouraging student
use of community resources.

- Community space separated and usable without making the teach-
ing spaces vulnerable - Zoning

- Employee parking***

- Separate room for PTA Storage - dedicated meeting space

- Traffic safety is a big concern

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
5. Aesthetics

The school is appealing, warm and inviting to all, and reflects the
school’s valuse and focus

- maintain internal historical architectural elements. The two main
staircases, in particular, are symbols alumni relate to Loyal Heights
Elementary.

- Windows into hallways for natural light - could come through
classroom walls

- warm colors - dark woods

- Words or quotes on walls that promote respect and learning

- Building materials with integrity to compliment the existing struc-
ture and stand the test of time.

- playground with places to run & explore in and amongst trees and
shrubs to create a respite from academics

- building to remain looking historical while becoming technologi-
cally advanced and flexible - like Washington Elementary...

- light on metal or “industrial” architecture - exposed wood has a
homier feel

- lighting - pendants like at Washington

- Field - year round friendly

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

6. Safety

Students are safe and cared for in all the important aspects of
their lives.

- a central access “Person trap” that looks and feels like a lounge
space.

- good line of site from the administrative office to the parent drop-
off zone - bus zone too if possible.

- Doors that lock from inside classrooms and other learning spaces

- Blackout shades in all student learning spaces including Gym

- Volunteer / parent check-in removed from staff desks in main of-
fice

- All parts of the playground visible from one point

- Visibility to main gathering spaces

- Outdoor (playground) lighting

- School area of refuge

- Earthquake strength furniture

- being able to store all of “stuff” for safe student movement in
classrooms

- No cords on floor - consider electrical access & floor outlets

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
7. Collaboration

Everyone associated with the school works collabroatively to real-
ize the school’s hopes for students.

- PTA space separate from teacher space - consider multi-use meet-
ing space

- Doors between classrooms

- Comfortable staff lounge - large enough for whole staff

- Small group / individual instruction spaces at end of, in corners or
off hallways- consider acoustics / distractions - use alcoves or insets

- Drama Program - how does this happen/integrate? Cafeteria /
Stage? Instrumental space?

LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
8. Sustainability

Create schools that encourage a culture of conservation and envi-
ronmentally responsibile behaviors by combining learning with sus-
tainability.

- use sustainability as an educational tool -- make all elements trans-
parent and accessible

- Use building performance dashboards that provide real-time effi-
ciency information that children can understand. -- display of waste
processing systems would be an excellent avenue to teach engineer-
ing and technology - right in line with the STEM mandate!

- designated recycling & composting stations! (responsibility)

- environmentally friendly materials

- Long term quality. Decisions / choices that emphasize long life cy-
cle of building

- Emphasize the “science” beyond the building structure

- Roof : potential for solar panel / storage - or - green roof

- Keep the aquarium!