After being named one of 15 finalists for the 2019 ‘Building of the Year’ award given out by the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC), Mount Si High School was edged out for the top spot by a big name building: the University of Washington’s Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering. UW also won last year for its new Life Sciences building.
Mount Si gave the new UW Gates Center for Computer Science a run for the money, though, finishing only a few percentage points behind. The Gates building got 19% of the votes and Mount Si received 16%, followed by the Concourse D Annex at Sea-Tac Airport which got 13% of votes.
Matt Rumbaugh, of NAC Architecture, which designed MSHS, described the new building:
“From large scale to human scale,’ is a phrase we use to describe Mount Si High School. The campus is designed as a series of connected buildings on an elevated platform. Sized to respond to growth in the Snoqualmie Valley, the school is one of the largest in Washington state. The design centers around an environment that allows students and staff to interact with each other and the building at a variety of scales. Spaces were created to give students the personal attention they deserve. By weaving in social and informal learning environments, the school honors the individual and communal human relationships.”
The public got to decide the winner after DJC staff picked the 15 finalists from a list of over 60 potential building projects across Washington that were completed last year.
If you you’d still like to tour the new Mount Si High School, the district is planning an opportunity soon. The public is invited to a Community Open House at Mount Si High School on Monday, March 9th, from 6PM – 8 PM. During the Open House, people will be able to explore on their own or sign up for a guided tour.
The March 9th open house replaces a previously planned event on January 13th that had to be cancelled due to snow.
For those who would like a guided tour, the district asks you to RSVP to SVSDinfo@svsd410.org. In your message, please include your name, number of people in your party, and, if you prefer a 6PM or 7PM time slot.
If you cannot make the open house, we’ve provided a video virtual tour below.
