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John Rogers

John Rogers Elementary School Replacement Project

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Project Update: September 2024

  • Installed irrigation, topsoil, and hydroseeding on the new playfield.
  • Completed exterior framing, sheathing, and weather-resistant barrier.
  • Continued installing windows and exterior masonry bricks.
  • Nearly done with interior framing and overhead utilities with wallboard and painting in progress.

(Updates are posted for the previous month after the BEX/BTA Oversight Committee Meeting. The committee does not meet in August so there is no July update.)

About the Project

The existing school building will be demolished, and a new school building will be constructed. Site work will terrace the site and seamlessly connect the play field to the rest of the campus.

Designed for current and future students

The proposed design replaces the existing John Rogers Elementary School with a new, 82,000 square foot 2- and 3-story building. Once complete, the school will provide an equitable learning space for up to 500 K-5 elementary students and an area to expand the school in the future as enrollment grows.

Thanks to the work of the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) — comprised of school leaders, parents, and community members — it will meet district educational standards for 500 students while also fulfilling the specific needs the specific needs of the John Rogers Elementary School community.

The school will nestle into a newly terraced site that will enhance connections to nature, play, and outdoor learning. Campus improvements will provide a safe site for all. A new network of pathways and street access will connect the neighborhood to the school.

Outdoor learning areas will be improved, including a new natural turf field and drainage system. Natural play areas will connect students to the site.

Safety and security

Visitors will enter through a secure main entrance that invites you into the administrative office for check-in before entering the school. All other doors will be locked during the school day.

Building for a sustainable future

The new John Rogers Elementary is being designed as Seattle Public Schools’ first Net-Zero Energy building, and includes:

  • Daylight in all classrooms and learning spaces
  • Highly efficient heating and fresh air ventilation
  • Geothermal wells to use energy from the ground for heating and cooling
  • Solar panels to use energy from the sun

Timeline

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Construction phase
Learn what happens during these project phases
  • Pre-design phase complete
  • Schematic design phase complete
  • Design development phase complete
  • Construction documents and permitting phase complete
  • Bid and award phase complete
  • Construction is in progress
  • School opens Fall 2025

Construction Progress Photos

a building under construction with scaffolding and bricks on some of the walls
Brick facing in progress – Aug. 2024
a building under construction with materials on the floor and high ceiling
Metal stud framing and utilities in the gymnasium – Aug. 2024
interior of a building under construction with materials on the ground floor and stairs leading up
Framing for the commons – Aug. 2024
a partially finished room under construction with a person working on wallboard
Drywall in a classroom – Aug. 2024
a building under construction with trees in the background
Looking south toward the future field – Aug. 2024
a building under construction with a lot of construction equipment and materials
Looking north with the south entrance to the lower left – Aug. 2024
aerial view of a construction project with a large H-shaped building in progress. Behind it is a open dirt area with construction equipment. Trees are all around and a lake is visible in the far background.
Aerial view looking southeast in June 2024
a large building under construction with a 3 story section covered in yellow material with writing and a section that has a sloped roof
South entrance and one of the classroom wings – June 2024
looking out through a wall framing without walls toward another building that has yellow sheathing on it
Exterior framing and sheathing – June 2024
inside a partially constructed hallway with metal studs and people working
Metal stud framing – June 2024
wood framing on a concrete floor inside a partially constructed building
Form work for the landing for the commons stairs – June 2024
inside a partially built room with wood beams and steel framing
Interior view of the library – June 2024
aerial view of a large building under construction with roofs in place in two areas and framing on others
Looking north toward the future south entrance – May 2024
a large dirt lot with some mounds and construction grading machines
Work underway in the location of the future playfield – May 2024
a crane line is being attached to a white steel beam with red and blue stripes. there is a US flag and an evergreen tree attached to the top of the beam
Preparing to lift the final beam into place – May 2024
a steel beam frame has two people shaking hands on a white beam with red and blue paint and an evergreen tree and a flag on it
Celebrating installation of the final steel beam at the Topping Out Ceremony – May 2024
inside a partially built building with steel framing for walls being installed on a concrete floor
Interior metal studs and door frame installation – May 2024
aerial of a large construction project with a crane, equipment, and mud. there is a lake in the distance
Aerial view looking southeast toward Lake Washington – Apr. 2024
aerial of a building under construction with foundations for other parts surrounding it
Administration and the south learning wing taking shape – Apr. 2024
steel framing for a large building and some ground work in front of it
Steel erection in progress – Apr. 2024
a large muddy area with a retaining pond sits behind a gravel area with a construction machine
Grading and compating for the lower playfield – Apr. 2024
Steel structure of columns and beams under construction
Installing steel columns, joists, and decking in the south educational wing – Mar. 2024
aerial view from the side showing a large construction site iwth steel being erected at one end and trucks and equipment at the other end
Looking northwest with school structural steel in the upper right – Mar. 2024
aerial of part of a construction site with foundations outlining the building footprint and some structural steel erected
Primary building footprint with steel going up on south end – Mar. 2024
aerial of part of a large construction site with concrete footings showing where the building will be
Primary building footprint and temporary water retention pond – Feb. 2023
aerial view of a large construction site with equipment and trucks. there is a body of water in the background and houses in the foreground
Looking southeast – February 2024
aerial view of a construction site surrounded by trees and houses
Aerial view looking southwest with white structural foam placed – Dec. 2023
a dirt construction site with trenches and construction materials
Preparing for concrete footing installation – Dec. 2023
aerial view of a large construction site that has mud, grass, and equipment
Looking northwest the new building will be in the upper part of the photo – Oct. 2023
a construction site has a sloped dirt area that is next to a grass area. a back hoe and a bulldozer are in the photo
Trenching for geothermal wells on the south part of the site – Oct. 2023

Current Designs

Site plan

architect's rendering of a site plan with a building in the center, a large green field to the right, and a circular driveway to the left
Architect’s drawing of the site plan for the new school building and grounds – June 2023
architect's drawing of a building with a walkway and plantings
Potential view of the south entrance
architect's drawing of an exterior courtyard
Potential view of the courtyard
architect's drawing of a large interior space with stairs going up
Potential view of the commons
a site plan drawing with a school footprint and a field
Potential site plan

Here is the presentation from the meeting.

Questions and Answers from Community Meetings

Below you will find the questions/comments and answers from community meetings

Q. What is the timeline for the whole project?

A. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2023 and be complete summer of 2025 in time for start of school in September.

Q. How will the number of students change over the years ahead?

A. SPS builds two sizes of elementary schools: 500-student or 650-student. One of the criteria for selecting a school for replacement or modernization is the projected need for capacity in the next 75 years. The new building is designed to accommodate 500 students and will have a master plan for an addition that will accommodate 650 students.

Q. How will art from previous years be saved and reinstalled into the new building? 

A. The design team is working with the school and principal to identify what art should be reinstalled.

Q. Where does my student go to school during construction? 

A. John Rogers school will be located at the John Marshall building for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 school years.

Q. Does the design impact 41st Place NE?

A. Students will continue to access the site from 41st place by foot. Depending on your location you may be able to see the new building from your home. No street improvements are currently planned for 41st place.

Q. Are you using geothermal wells to heat and cool the building? 

A. Yes. Geothermal wells will be used.

Q. My property borders the field on the west side. When should we expect the designers to reach out to us?

A. The design team is not proposing any revisions along the west side of the field.

Q. King County sewer is investigating the current lack of capacity to handle stormwater and sewer discharge.  Is there coordination with this project to expand king county piping system?

A. There are no current plans to expand the King County piping system as part of this project. The project will coordinate with King County Sewer as necessary including as a part of the permit review process.

Q. Are the designers aware of the upcoming changes to 41st Place NE to install natural drainage systems?

A. Yes. SPS has been in communication with Seattle Public Utility and is currently coordinating timing on the upcoming Natural Drainage System to be installed on 41st

Q. Will there be lighting at night?

A. Dark sky site lighting is planned. The exterior building-mounted lighting, site lighting, and parking lighting will be on a time schedule set by SPS.

Q. Will there be any sidewalks installed along 105th from Sand Point Way to help kids walking to school?

A. Additional sidewalks at 105th are not currently proposed or required by SDOT.

Q. There was a yellow arrow pointing for extra parking (in the presentation). It looked like it was headed towards 41st Place NE. Is that correct? How will that work?

A. The yellow arrow was used to show that the traffic study completed for the project has shown adequate street parking in areas surrounding the site, even for events, and that there will be multiple pedestrian access points to the site including at 41st.

Comment: I don’t believe there is a significant number of parking spaces along the street of 41st.

A. This is being further reviewed with the Transportation Specialist.

Q. The upper parking lot at the north end will be teacher parking, and accessible by car from 110th street, yes?

Yes. The upper parking lot is for teacher parking and accessible from 110th St.

Q. Will there be any vehicle access from 109th up to 110th, as there is now, or will that only be pedestrian access?

A. There will only be pedestrian access from 109th to 110th.

Comment. 105th cannot accommodate two-way traffic when cars are backed into the parking spaces.

A. 105th is a two-way street per the City of Seattle. The angled parking along the street is not owned by SPS.

Comment. The neighborhood would like you to put in a light at 35th Ave NE and 105th.

A. A light at 35th and 105th is not within the project budget or something controlled by the district.

Comment. A light at 35th and 105th not needed or wanted!

A. A light at 35th and 105th is not within the project budget or something controlled by the district.

Q. How does this project align with the SDOT bridge replacement projects? SDOT is planning to replace the small bridges on 105th (at the SW corner of the site), 110th, 39th (and others). Timeline TBD.

A. The projects are independent, and timelines are not aligned.

Comment. With Nathan Hale using the field for sports, 105th is very unsafe with parking.

A. The angled parking along 105th is not owned by the district.

Q. I was surprised that you’re planning to have cars drive onto the site from 105th and turnaround rather than drop them at 105th. Can the City collaborate on making 105th safer and used for this purpose?

A. The site frontage on 105th and 110th was determined to be too short for offsite pick up and drop off. The project team has worked with the School Traffic Safety Committee to determine the current course of action.

Comment. It’s unfortunate to push parking into neighborhoods when there are no sidewalks to support foot traffic safely.

A. Site constraints, including topography, poor soils, and steep slopes have restricted the amount of the site available for parking and other amenities. Priority has been given to teaching and learning spaces, outdoor play areas and separation of bus and parent traffic.

The quantity of striped stalls in the proposed design is comparable to the quantity at the existing site (42 proposed and 35 existing). The existing site can also support additional informal parking of approximately 23 to 26 vehicles. The proposed design provides similar event parking of an additional 32 stalls.

Q. Has anyone thought about asking the Korean Presbyterian church if they would be willing to rent out their parking lot during the week? 

A. A conversation with the Korean Presbyterian Church has not occurred. Thank you for the suggestion.

Q. Is the plan for the field to be natural grass or artificial turf?

A. The field will be natural grass.

Q. The current field is very wet in non-summer months. Any improvements there? 

A. Yes. Improvements are being made to raise the field elevations and provide under drainage.

Q. Q. Does a U 12 field accommodate high school use?

A. No.

Q. Will there be tall pole lighting on ball fields?

A. No. There will not be pole lights on the athletic fields.

Q. Will the playground surface be paved again or a more natural material?

A. There will be different areas consisting of hard surface paving, soft surface, and natural materials.

Q. How many square feet is the asphalt play area?

A. The proposed hard surface play area is approximately ½ acre.

Q. Is there a dedicated childcare play structure?

A. Pre-K will have a separate play area with age-appropriate elements. Before & After-school childcare will use the courtyard, playground, and building as agreed with the district.

Q. Will there be a covered play court? 

A. A covered play area will be designed and included as a Bid Alternate.

Q. What degree of net change will there likely be in terms of numbers of trees on site, and tree canopy coverage?

A. Trees removed to build the new school will be replaced at a minimum of a 1:1 ratio and result in an increase to the canopy cover at maturity. The replacement trees will be located to shade new walkways, courtyards, and gathering spaces. Trees will be chosen specifically to reduce heat impacts to the building while still ensuring the rooftop solar panels will get light.

Q. What is the purpose or meaning of the water collection and channeling?

A. Water is being collected and channeled on site to meet city storm water requirements while also providing educational opportunities and visual interest to the site.

Q. Will SPS maintain the new wooded area at the north of the site where the steep street is currently?

A. The wooded area on the northeast will remain.

Q. The steep slope at the NE is filled with invasive plant material, not exactly the beautiful artist rendering through the windows. Will any work be done to remove invasive plants and plant new trees?

A. The district is working with the landscape architect to remove the invasive species along the hillside.

Comment. FYI, there’s an old Duwamish foot path and fishing weir along the stream across from the south gate the runs parallel to 105th there. 

A. Thank you, we will investigate.

School Design Advisory Team (SDAT)

Early in the design process, representatives from the school community come together to form a school’s SDAT. SDATs typically include school and district staff, parents, and community members. Students are sometimes included for all or part of the process. The project construction managers also take part. Learn more about the John Rogers Elementary School SDAT.

More information

Site size: The 9.1 acre site is partially in the flood plain for Thornton Creek.

Architect: DLR Group

General Contractor/Construction Management Firm (GC/CM): Lydig Construction

Project Budget: $91.5M

Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.

Contact

For questions or comments about this project, please use our online Let’s Talk form.

Project Manager: Amanda Fulford, asfulford1@iin3d.com, 206-252-0697

John Rogers Elementary School
4030 NE 109th St
Seattle, WA 98125

Rogers School Profile

Rogers School Website