Center Campus Middle School Project

List of 6 items.

• Construction Timeline & Impact

  Winter 2026: construction begins (estimated 18 month construction project)

   

  Fall 2027: students begin classes in the new building with the start of the school year 

  
  

  During construction we want to minimize disruption for all students and especially the Middle School students. Students will stay on campus, and we are exploring how to best utilize the spaces we have in the Republican and Harrison wings and additional space in the Upper School. 

  
  

  We are exploring options to provide food during construction for the entire K-12 student, faculty/staff community that the Commons provides. We will move Upper School food service to the Upper School Pantry. Food will be prepared offsite and brought to campus to distribute. We are discussing options to determine where eating will take place, which could include classrooms and outdoor spaces.

  
  

  The current Sixth Grade Wing (along E. Harrison Street) and the Middle School Building along E. Republican Street will remain in-tact. With the majority of Middle School classes held in the new building, the purposes of these spaces will be re-imagined and refreshments will occur.

• What will Happen to the Harrison and Republican Wings?

  We are planning to repurpose the Harrison wing by creating a DEI Center, Learning Support Center, and a Makerspace. The Republican wing will receive classroom, teacher workspaces, and other updates.
  
  

  Some additional details:

  • Both the Harrison and Republican wings will undergo several common improvements, including new carpeting throughout, interior and exterior painting, installation of acoustical panels and elements, updated casework, and modernized electrical systems and outlets. Ceilings and lighting will remain in most areas, with new ceilings and lighting fixtures added to reworked spaces. The intent is for new furniture for both buildings. Additionally, each building will receive a new mechanical unit for heating and cooling, although windows will not be upgraded in this project. Doors will remain but with new hardware.
  • In the Republican wing, three classrooms will be enhanced with new teaching walls and interactive boards. The renovation will also include two teacher workspaces, a laboratory, and a music room. Existing lockers will be replaced with a new two-tier system, while restrooms will be expanded and water fountains will be modified to meet ADA compliance.
  • The Harrison wing will feature several new dedicated spaces, including a prayer room, wellness room, and Community, Equity, and Inclusion space. A comprehensive Learning Support Center will be created, offering private tutoring areas, a formal conference space, and general workstations. The wing will also include a Middle School makerspace, which will be equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, a green screen, and a teaching wall with an interactive board.

• Which Architecture Firm is the School Using?

  We are using Mithun Architects, a highly regarded and award-winning West Coast firm. They are familiar with The Bush School and our unique needs as they designed the Upper School building.

• Sustainability - Environmental Certification Considerations

  We are committed to Salmon-Safe certification across campus. As a leading U.S. ecolabel, Salmon-Safe offers peer-reviewed certification, linking site development and land management practices with the protection of agricultural and urban watersheds.

  
  

  Additionally, we are considering Zero Carbon, Zero Energy, and Fitwell certifications. 

  • Zero Carbon certified buildings are verified by a third-party after a twelve-month performance period to be energy efficient, combustion free (or actively phasing out combustion), and powered by renewals.
  • Zero Energy certification allows projects to demonstrate that the building is truly operating as claimed, harnessing energy from the sun, wind or earth to produce net annual energy demand.tion), and powered by renewals.
  • Fitwel is the leading rating system for optimizing building design to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. Examples of Fitwel include: implementing best practices in stairwell design to encourage stair use and adopting and maintain an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) policy for the building.

• Board Leadership

  The Campus Design and Development Taskforce is chaired by Kathy O'Kelley and Judi Yates.
  
  Trustees who serve on the committee: 
  Lisa Carroll
  Steven Caplow
  Salone Habibuddin
  Patti Hearn

• Additional Information

  As was the case with the Upper School South Building, this project will be funded through a combination of philanthropy and financing. There will be opportunities for the entire community to learn more about the building and how they can get involved as construction nears.