Federal Way Public Schools is Washington State’s most diverse school district. District leadership, the superintendent, and the board of directors had been learning collectively and implementing a strategic plan that addressed systemic challenges for their scholars. A new building for Olympic View K-8 was designed entirely during the restrictions of COVID-19 and heightened awareness of disproportionate challenges that it brought. Belonging and equity were prominent in the listening exercises the team conducted, and the design of a new building was a call to address them.
The new Olympic View K-8 is envisioned as a multicultural hub to fully meet the unique learning needs of each student and to support their families. A Community Pavilion that includes the family liaison, counselors, library, and a discovery lab is placed at the front of the school to make access to resources more equitable. The playground is reimagined as a park, delivering immersive outdoor learning during the day while providing neighborhood amenities for community use after hours. Personalized learning features in the design provide opportunities for self-expression, reflection, and representation for a population with 86% students of color.
Biophilic design advances the district’s sustainability goals with special attention given to scholar and teacher wellbeing. Tucked into a northwest neighborhood rich with mature evergreens, nature is brought inside with natural finishes, abundant daylight, and an olive tree at the center of the Pavilion.
Click here to find additional design insights in the Project Overview.
