Van Asselt Wins OUTSTANDING STEWARDSHIP AWARD FROM HISTORIC SEATTLE
Van Asselt School is the proud winner of the 2024 outstanding stewardship award from historic seattle
The Original Van Asselt School building, located in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood, was constructed in 1909 by architect Edgar Blair in a unique Tudor Style. Originally an elementary school with four classrooms centered around a stairwell, it has undergone significant expansions, including basement classrooms in the 1940s and an elevator in 2002.
A city landmark
Designated a City of Seattle Landmark in May 2019, the building’s original 1909 features are recognized as significant. After years of vacancy, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) revitalized the landmark in 2019 as part of a campus expansion. The restoration preserved the building's historic character while updating it for modern educational needs, including mechanical, electrical, and safety upgrades and restoring original architectural elements.
Expansion for 21st century learning
A new two-story classroom and gymnasium were also added, providing space for 650 additional students. The new addition complements the historic architecture, with the 1909 building remaining the focal point of the site. The project is a testament to historic schoolhouse rehabilitation, ensuring the building's legacy for future generations.
Recognition and homage to the past
Bassetti’s experiential graphics team conceived of several displays to highlight the local impact of the original 1900 schoolhouse, the site itself, and the neighborhood's history. These include a timeline of the building and the site; an interpretive display that explains how rainfall travels to the ocean and narrates the story of hydrology from both environmental and historical perspectives; and a graphic resembling a patchwork quilt that symbolizes the cultural and racial diversity of Beacon Hill and South Seattle which are nicknamed “The Neighborhood of Nations.”
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Seattle Public Schools and the project team: Bassetti Architects, Cornerstone General Contactors, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Metrix Engineers, Hargis, AHBL, Site Workshop, PBS, BET&R, A3 Acoustics LLP, and Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc.
