By bus. SPS transportation will put a pick-up and drop-off plan together, and students will be grouped at stops near their homes. If enough families are interested and enjoy walking to and from Montlake, there may also be the opportunity to be picked up (and dropped off) as a larger group at the beginning and end of the school day.
John Marshall was remodeled approximately six years ago. The building is in good condition, close to Green Lake, and big enough to have options for flex spaces. It also has a large kitchen cafeteria and stage. It has two gyms, which allows for plenty of space for PE and indoor recess when needed. The Montlake staff and families will have a large parking lot to use and the building is ADA accessible with an elevator and ramps at the entrance.
John Marshall has an art room and a science room that might be used as a flex garden space. There is also a large planter in the shape of an alligator at the front of the school which could be used for a garden program.
John Marshall has more physical space available and a dedicated, licensable childcare room. Though the Montlake administration will determine how the school spaces will be best used, previous childcares have used one of the gyms (closest to childcare room 110), and have also used the cafeteria and other rooms as needed.
Assuming Launch is able to hire the staff to support it, there is adequate space to enroll more students in the program than the current Montlake facility can support. Launch and other child-care providers across the city are working hard to staff their programs, and we cannot predict whether this will continue.
This is not provided by SPS transportation or Launch; however, families are welcome to pursue service arrangements with a provider or find another work-around if they feel this is a need. Launch has offered to help facilitate the organization of carpools with families who are enrolled in their program.
This is not provided by SPS Transportation, but families are welcome to fill out an alternate address form to demonstrate interest for specific locations. Contact the Department of Transportation to find out if there is a bus with room for your child associated with the alternate drop-off address. There are no guarantees, but families are welcome to fill out this form.
When the school moves into the remodeled space in 2025, will enrollment increase? If so, are other nearby schools consolidating with Montlake? Will neighborhood boundary lines change?
Boundary lines will not change. The new school has been designed to accommodate 500 students, and historically enrollment increases after Capital projects at schools.
Montlake School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) Update
Montlake School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) is a team of dedicated parents, teachers, and community members who have been working over the last couple of months with our architects at DLR Group on the design of our new school.
Exterior brick masonry restoration/improvement work
Historic window refurbishment
Interior painting, utilities, and casework installation.
New Addition
Continuing work:
Exterior window installation, weatherproofing, brick masonry installation, and roofing
Interior wallboard and painting
Gym roofing
Updates are posted for the previous month after the BEX/BTA Oversight Committee Meeting.
Looking southwest at the historic building – Sep. 2024West side of new classroom building – Sep. 20242nd floor hallway in new addition – Sep. 2024Ceiling grid in historic building classroom – Sep. 2024Historic window refurbishment – Sep. 2024Gymnasium – Sep. 2024
About the Project
The 2-story existing school building is a designated Seattle Landmark. The 22,447 square-foot landmarked building will be renovated and modernized.
The project design includes renovations to the existing landmarked building and construction of a new 3-story addition.
Funding Source
Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.
Designed for current and future students
Once complete, the school will provide an equitable learning space for up to 500 K-5 elementary students. It will meet district educational standards while reflecting the input from the school design advisory team comprised of school leaders, students, parents, and community members.
The addition will be set into the site with a roofline height that respects the scale of the current school building and neighborhood.
Accessibility will be built in throughout the campus to ensure everyone can attend or visit the school.
Classrooms will be arranged with a variety of shared learning spaces to support academic success for every student.
Safety and security
Students, families, and visitors will be welcomed through a new entry plaza on the northeast side of the of the addition.
Visitors will enter through a single access point, the secure main entrance that invites them into the administrative office for check-in before entering the school.
Outdoor connections
New outdoor learning spaces will be constructed on the east side of the landmarked school building. A central play courtyard will provide a direct connection to the garden terraces. A second-floor learning and play terrace will directly connect to classrooms.
Building a sustainable future
Sustainable design features will be built in to work toward the district goals for clean energy and renewable resources, including a high-performing building envelope and the installation of solar panels.
Temporary Move — 2023-24 and 2024-25 School Years
Montlake Elementary School has moved to the John Marshall School interim site, 520 NE Ravenna Blvd, during construction.
Construction documents/permitting phase in progress
Bid and award phase complete
Construction in progress
School opens Fall 2025
Construction Progress Photos
Windows and masonry being installed on new addition – Aug. 2024
Roof on addition nearly complete – Aug. 2024
Painting and casework in landmarked building – Aug. 2024
Future rooftop play area on the gymnasium – Aug. 2024
Typical classroom in the historic building – June 2024
Interior of the historic building with wallboard installed – June 2024
2nd floor hallway in the addition – June 2024
Floors 2 and 3 of addition with outdoor learning deck shown – June 2024
Gymnasium construction progress – June 2024
Entire site – June 2024
Interior stairway in the new addition – May 2024
New gymnasium building going up – May 2024
Looking east with the concrete blocks for the gym being installed in the lower right – May 2024
Looking north with the new addition at the top and the historic building to the right – May 2024
Concrete footing and forms for the gymnasium – Apr. 2024
Outdoor learning terrace on the addition – Apr. 2024
Addition to house administration, classrooms, and library – Apr. 2024
View looking west with landmarked building in foreground – Apr. 2024
Metal stud framing, wall board, and utilities on 2nd floor of landmarked building – March 2024
Concrete deck poured on level 3 of the addition – March 2024
Gymnasium footings in progress, lower right – March 2024
Looking north showing steel in place and metal decking installation – March 2024
Ironworkers await the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
Project Manager Paul Wight signs the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
Montlake Principal Julia Pearson and Capital Projects and Facilities Director Richard Best at beam signing – Mar. 7, 2024
Congratulatory handshake on placement of final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
Ironworkers bring the beam into place – Mar. 7, 2024
Flying in the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
Project crew with the final beam – Mar. 7, 2024
Concrete sheer wall for seismic upgrades in the landmarked building – Feb. 2024
Steel erection for the new addition – Feb. 2024
Looking east with the landmarked building in the foreground and the new steel structure in progress behind – Feb. 2024
Looking north with Husky Stadium in background – Feb. 2024
Pumping concrete into concrete footing forms with rebar – Dec. 2023
Concrete retaining wall complete on west side of historic building – Dec. 2023
Aerial site view looking northwest – Dec. 2023
Concrete form work and rebar placement for new footing – Nov. 2023
Interior demolition on the first floor of the landmarked building – Oct. 2023
Concrete forms and rebar for new footing next to historic building – Oct. 2023
Aerial view in October 2023
Excavation on the south side of the building – Sept. 2023
Shoring the existing west side of the school – Sept. 2023
Demolishing the old gym where it attached to the landmarked building – August 2023
Current Designs
These images show architect’s drawings of how the new school might look.
Potential view of the commons and stage-Oct 2022
Site plan for proposed addition and existing building – Oct. 2022
Architect’s drawing of the new entrance – June 2023
Architect’s drawing of play area – June 2023
Community Participation
Capital Projects and Planning, the architectural firm, and eventually, the construction team use multiple opportunities to share information and collect feedback on school construction projects. Read about the engagement done during the two-year planning process for the Montlake Elementary modernization and addition project.
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 Montlake Elementary School SDAT.
Project Team
Design Firm: DLR Group
General Contractor/Construction Management Firm (GC/CM): Skanska
