<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW Attendees gather before a public hearing meeting to talk about plans for the new Shorewood High School, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 in the current Shorewood High School library.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Dreaming up a new Shorewood, Shorecrest

By Sarah Koenig
Enterprise reporter

When a new Shorewood High School is built, parent Patty Schoch wants it to be a place where the community can gather, not just a school-day building. But the school part can be improved too, she said.

"All three of my kids have commented on how dark (Shorewood) is, how far from one part of campus to another," she said. "They were all in sports, and the locker room has seen better times."

New or renovated school buildings are in the works at Shorewood and Shorecrest high schools, with a completion goal of 2013. (See sidebar for details.)

Schoch was one of dozens who showed up Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Shorewood library to share input and concerns on the planned buildings.

The mixed crowd included elementary school kids, parents, high school students, neighbors, teachers, builders, administrators and more. An identical meeting was held at Shorecrest.

Attendees shared comments aloud in small groups. Their comments were written on large sheets of paper.

Suggestions for Shorewood included:

• Make the school architecturally interesting, welcoming and beautiful, not institutional.

• The current school is too spread out. Maybe making it three stories could help.

• Build the school to reduce the number of students gravitating toward surrounding neighborhoods. Some students take smoke breaks near people's driveways.

• Put in good heating systems, because "nothing hurts learning like a cold classroom or a hot classroom."

• Add a community pool at the school.

• Improve fields for more community use.

• Make the school a conference center when not in use.

• Do not combine the lunchroom with the performing arts center.

• Build a library with many big windows.

• Create several gathering places for students, not just one central space.

• Make sure there are enough faculty bathrooms.

Attendees also shared worries about the fate of the Shoreline Historical Museum, a small historic building on the Shorewood campus.

The building has landmark status, so tearing it down is a last resort, said Lorne McConachie of Bassetti Architects, the firm that is building the new school. The building also needs seismic upgrades, he said.

Some worried about the height of the building and the shadow it would cast. Architect Ted Cameron said the campus area has a 30 to 35 foot height limit.

Other concerns were already reflected in the architects' drawings, which showed the direction of noise from car dealerships on Aurora Avenue North.

The drawings also showed the direction of sunlight and possible views.

Locally, Bassetti Architects has built Edmonds-Woodway High School, Seattle City Hall and Mary Gates Hall at the University of Washington. They also are building the new Lynnwood High School.

The evening's input will be used when designing the school, architects and officials said.

"Tonight is for heavy-duty listening," said Marcia Harris, deputy superintendent.