Thomas Jefferson High School

Thomas Jefferson High School

Auburn, Washington

CLIENT

Federal Way Public School

size

211,800 sf

year

2022

Thomas Jefferson International Baccalaureate High School is a replacement school project. The current school is disjointed and spread out, minimizing the opportunity for collaboration. The open circulation of the new design aims to bring students together, and supports the whole child, including social/ emotional needs. It is designed as a learner-centered environment, where learning communities and shared areas create a hands-on interdisciplinary educational environment.

In order to support a collegiate-like atmosphere, the classrooms are organized around open stairs and study spaces. While the old school design had separated learning communities, the new design deliberately avoids this in order to foster impromptu learning connections and collaborative opportunities among students.

Another focus of the new school is CTE programming. The student commons is lined with CTE programs to encourage and highlight hands-on learning. There is a CTE courtyard to create flexible learning options inside and out.