Raisbeck Aviation High School

raisbeck aviation high school

Tukwila, Washington

Client

Highline Public Schools

Size

86,350 sf

Year

2014

Awards

  • 2015, Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), James D. MacConnell Award, Finalist

  • 2015, Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), Polished Apple, Merit Award

  • 2014, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI - Now A4LE), New Construction, Merit Award

  • 2011, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI - Now A4LE), Polished Apple, People’s Choice Award

Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) was conceived as a response to Highline Public Schools’ deep desire to give students access to aeronautics and aviation professions, the school’s proximity to the aviation industry, and an educational vision that melds hands-on, project-based learning with academic rigor. The new 400-student STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) school enables students to flourish through co-location with the Museum of Flight and immersion in aerospace and aviation.

The design responds to the site and program with a three-story building featuring: a grand central stairway that provides a social heart to the school, informal learning opportunities, and student display areas. Learning clusters radiate from the center stairs, each with a flexible breakout area overlooking either airport activity to the east, or boat traffic on the Duwamish River to the west. The commons and multi-purpose room work together to transform into one, two-level space enabling students to deliver formal presentations to industry partners and the student body. 

Labs are designed to support the robotics program and are outfitted with equipment, technology, and a wind tunnel to encourage a broad range of exploration. Ground floor labs promote educational partnership with the Museum of Flight by opening directly to the museum’s Airpark – an outdoor aircraft gallery where prestigious planes are exhibited. Small conference rooms support the school’s mentor/student agenda and provide private areas for discussion and exchange.

 

The commons (on the second level) looks over the multipurpose room (on the lower floor) which is used for assemblies, robotics demonstrations, experiments, or simply to burn some energy. The connection allows this space to transform as a state of the art auditorium that can accommodate the entire school by extending the foldable seating and connect the second level to the space below.

 

The iconic design feature of the three-story, 72,000 square foot building is its form - a curved cross-section inspired by the leading edge of a wing.

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