Community Celebrates New Upper School Building Opening

Following a blessing of the building from Duwamish Chairwoman Cecile Hansen, community members had the opportunity to walk the halls, tour the open spaces and classrooms. Younger students, not quite yet in the Upper School, also got a glimpse into their future. 

“Although Bush has a distinct culture, it does evolve with its people and campus,” Carolina H. '22 said. “Once upon a time the current Lower School building was considered new, and now all of those spaces are part of the amazing everyday experiences for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. And with this new building, the spaces will contribute to better, more collaborative learning here in the Upper School, and be an inspiring place for its students.”

Construction on the Upper School building project, which began in November of 2020, prioritizes environmental sustainability – both the building itself and its operational features – a value that is consistent with the school’s history, ethos, and values. The New Upper School Building is positioned next to Gracemont Alumni Hall and Wissner, and is the first step in the school’s  Education Master Plan (EMP) for capital improvements on both the Seattle and Methow campuses. Designed with an environmentally focused lens and serving as a dynamic learning environment for Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade students, the three-story New Upper School Building is the first K-12 Salmon Safe school, the first Passive House school in the West, and one of the first net zero energy schools in the nation.

 

“The New Upper School Building allows The Bush School to not only make an impact in the area of environmental stewardship, but to live our values by placing sustainability as a priority,” Dr.. Abram said. “This is a watershed moment for the school and we are proud to achieve these national environmental certifications. The architects and builders listened to the school’s team and created a beautiful edifice that is the physical manifestation of our mission and values.”

 

The space includes ten modern, flexible classrooms and 20,000 square feet in additional educational space. The new Lake Washington Entrance provides enhanced ADA accessibility to the Upper School campus and the multipurpose room with a capacity of 400 will allow students and teachers across our K-12 community to gather and connect. 

“We are incredibly excited to open up the new Upper School building,” Bush Upper school Director Matt Lai said. “The spaces are phenomenal and will really enhance the fantastic learning that's happening here at Bush. Just as important too is its impact - or lack thereof - on the environment. We hope that the building will be a model for sustainability for years to come.”