"TODAY’S CHOICE WITH TOMORROW IN MIND"

Architect Ross Parker, Bassetti Architects

Denny International Middle School / Chief Sealth International High School, Seattle, USA
Designed to provide a personalized path from middle school to high school, Denny International Middle School / Chief Sealth International High School encourages and celebrates strong connections between schools, community, cultures and environment. Denny International Middle School, opening Autumn 2011, will be located on the same campus as the high school. The innovative design is a major renovation of the 1950s Chief Sealth High School building with the addition of a new multi-use Galleria space linked to the new Denny International Middle School.

Trespa Meteon used in combination with brick clads the section which joins the existing high school to the newly constructed middle school – and provides an aesthetically pleasing link.

According to architect Ross Parker of Bassetti Architects a key consideration was budget. Any work done now will have to last for another 50 years – and long-term maintenance costs have to be low. Trespa Meteon provided us with an attractive, durable and sustainable solution: “This is the first renovation/upgrade of this school which was built in the 1950's. Durability was a key consideration - the next upgrade may well be 50-70 years away - and as funds are limited, long-term maintenance costs are equally important. This major facelift has boosted students’ pride in their school resulting in marked higher attendance levels and fewer behavior issues.”