Mercer International Middle School

Mercer International
Middle School
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Asa Mercer International Middle School/About/School Replacement Project

School Replacement Project

January 2025 Update:

Learning Stairs
Courtyard
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Exciting Update: Our New School Building Project!

We are thrilled to share the latest updates on our new school building! This project marks a major milestone for our community, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone into this bright, spacious, and inspiring environment.

A Space That Inspires
Our new building is designed with students, staff and sustainability in mind. Filled with natural light and open spaces, it will foster creativity, collaboration, and learning. From dedicated classrooms to flexible meeting areas, the layout is intended to support a variety of learning styles and needs, providing a comfortable and dynamic space for all.

What’s Happening Now?
Our department leaders have been hard at work planning the interior space and furniture layouts. We’ve already had a successful tour of the building, and families will soon have the chance to see the progress through a slideshow at PTSA meetings (join us online!).

Stay Connected
We are excited about what’s to come and will continue to provide updates as the project moves forward. Thank you for being part of this journey with us as we build a future-focused space for our students, staff, and community.

Asa Mercer International Middle School Replacement Project

Latest News

Live Video

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Project Update: December 2024

  • Installed acoustic panels and basketball hoops in the gymnasium.
  • Completed the instrument lockers in the band storage room.
  • Started installing drywall in third floor classrooms.
  • Continued installing windows in the library
large room with wide stairs under construction
Commons – Dec. 2024
a gymnasium under construction wth a scissor lift and a colorful wall panel
Gymnasium – Dec. 2024
larger room partially completed with wood ceiling, large beams, and windows
Library windows in progress – Dec. 2024
a room under construction with a curved slatted based for a desk
Administration desk installation – Dec. 2024

(Updates are posted for the previous month after the BEX/BTA Oversight Committee Meeting. The committee does not meet in August so there is no July update.)

About the Project

The existing Asa Mercer Middle School building will be demolished and a new mass timber multi-story middle school building of approximately 174,000 sq. ft. constructed. Once complete, the new school building will provide permanent space for 1,000 students in grades 6–8.

The new one- to three-story school will be surrounded by landscaping and outdoor learning spaces. A synthetic turf practice field is planned for the east side of campus. A new, secure entry will welcome students, families, and the community with a clearly defined “front door” to the school.

Classrooms will be organized by academic neighborhoods, with flexible support spaces to promote a sense of community and support academic success for all students.

Sustainable design features are built in to meet district goals for clean energy and renewable resources.

Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.

Interim Location: During construction, Mercer International Middle School will be located at the Van Asselt School Interim Site, 7201 Beacon Ave. S.

Timeline

construction phase graphic showing that the school is in the Construction phase
Learn what happens during these phases
  • Pre-design phase
  • Schematic design phase
  • Design development phase
  • Construction documents/permitting phase
  • Construction phase in progress
  • School opens Fall 2025

Construction Progress Photos

metal framing in front of cross laminated timber bracing and ceiling for a two story building under construction
Entrance framing – Aug. 2024
a building under construction with gray material on the exterior walls
Exterior sheathing on east side – Aug. 2024
people are working on deep stairs in a room under construction
Learning Stairs in the commons – Aug. 2024
a person is on a lift working on copper pipes near the wooden ceiling and beams
Plumbing installation – Aug. 2024
exterior of a partially construction building with large concrete blocks below and a scaffold walkway where bricks are being installed on the walls
Brick masonry installation on west side of music rooms and entry – June 2024
exterior of a large building under construction with walls partially framed, a person on a lift near the 3rd floor, construction materials in foreground and bright blue sky with light clouds.
Exterior wall framing for classroom wing – June 2024
a large interior room under construction with part of the ceiling wood and large wood beams. Windows are in all three walls that are showing. The walls are framed but do not have wallboard.
Library in progress – June 2024
large interior room under construction with framing on one side for stairs. there is materials and equipment in the space.
Learning stair framing – June 2024
a large room under construction with metal framed walls and wood framed ceiling with piping
Looking northwest in the new band room – May 2024
a large open space with laminated timber beams and wall supports and cross laminated decking
Cross-laminated timber decking in the classroom area – May 2024
exterior of a partially built wing of a building withe a roof and construction equipment
Library roof and parapet – May 2024
a steel interior stairway inext two a framed in wall on one side and large laminate beams on the other side
Steel stair installed along side the gymnasium – May 2024
a steel structure surrounds a framework
Learning stairs support steel structure installation – Apr. 2024
a partially framed building has a wood ceiling resting on wood beams and posts
Looking along the corridor spine on the 2nd floor – Apr. 2024
a crane is lowering a large sheet of wood onto a wood frame of a building under construction
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) installation for the corridor – Apr. 2024
a row of frames made of columns and beams with steel on the ground in front
Glulam columns and beams installation – Apr. 2024
a building under construction with steel truss being installed for the roof and some wood wall framing in place
Steel truss erection for the gymnasium roof – Apr. 2024
wood framing for a building under construciton
Framing in the south section where they
a building is being framed with wood
Timber frame with cross-laminated timber in the entry area – Mar. 2024
a building is under construction with large cross-laminated timber beams and tibler posts
Timber frame installation – Mar. 2024
a backhoe moves soil at a construction site
Backfilling and compacting soil at the location of the classroom building – Feb. 2024
a concrete pump truck in the background with workers and a concrete slab in the foreground
Pouring a grade beam for the main entry – Feb. 2024
aerial view of a construction site that is still mostly flat and has some equipment on it
Looking southwest from webcam 1 – Feb. 2024
a trench with multiple lines of electrical conduit in it
Underground electrical new future boiler room – Nov. 2023
a trench with large pipes in it
Underground plumbing – Nov. 2023
a large construction machine is on a field of soil that has large round holes in it
Drilling aggregate piers – Oct. 2023
a tall metal structure is attached to the back of a truck with part of it in the ground. two workers are next to it.
Drilling geothermal wells – Oct. 2023
an excavator digging a hole
Installing deep stormwater and sanitary sewer – Sept. 2023
a construction site with construction equipment and trees
Demolition of former school building now complete – Sept. 2023
an expanse of concrete leads to two partially demolished buildings - one on each side - each has an excavator doing demolition
View of the demolition from the old parking lot – August 2023
a partially demolished building that is part brick. the brick part remains
Demolition of the east wing of the old building – August 2023
a partially demolished building. the remaining part of the building is two stories with a series of arched roofs
Demolition of the west wing of the old school – August 2023
wall board taped and mudded with metal framing for a partial wall below a dropped ceiling
Work underway in entry and admin offices – Sep. 2024
interior looking out through 2 story wall of windows with timber braces set in triangles
Interior view of the curtain wall at the main entrance – Sep. 2024
a two story glass wall exterior with holes for doorways covered in plastic
Main entrance curtain wall – Sep. 2024
a gray brick building with dirt around it
Brick masonry along south entry wall – Sep. 2024
looking down a hill that has wood forms with rebar ready for concrete
Forming for main entry stair – Sep. 2024

Current Designs

This site plan below shows the planned layout for the campus and new school building. North is at the top of the image. The west boundary at 16th Avenue S. is to the left. S. Columbian Way is at the bottom.

site plan for a large space with a building, trees, and parking
drawing of the corner of a 3 story building with stairs leading to it
Design view of looking toward the entry from corner of S. Columbian Way and 16th Ave. S
drawing of a courtyard in the corner of two parts of a 2 story and 3 story building
Architects’ drawing of courtyard outside of classroom building
a large open 2 story interior space looking down over learning stairs to the floor with lunchtables
Architects’ drawing of the Commons
2 rooms with green walls have windows looking out to a common area with a pillar in it
Learning commons between 2 classrooms

Project Team

Construction Management: Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc. (SOJ)

SOJ Construction Manager: Justine Kim, justinek@sojsea.com, 206-838-3706

School Design: Bassetti Architects

General Contractor: Cornerstone General Contractors

Project Address

1600 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108