Federal Way Public Schools Support Services Center
FEDERAL WAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT SERVICES CENTER
Federal Way, Washington
Client
Federal Way Public Schools
Size
Central kitchen: 37,970 sf Transportation center: 63,730 sf
Year
2013
Certification
LEED Gold
Located on a previously undeveloped 23-acre site next to Celebration Park and on a branch of the Hylebos Creek Watershed, the innovative planning and design of Federal Way Public Schools Support Services Center (SSC) links essential services with each other, students, and the community. The LEED Gold certified SSC houses the district’s transportation, maintenance, administrative, and kitchen facilities on one campus, and serves 37 schools.
The project goals were to promote staff interaction, effective operations, and learning opportunities in straightforward buildings that provide flexibility and embrace the concept of stewardship. The biggest design challenge was to merge these apparently disparate functions and building types into a unified campus. The design fosters collaboration by providing
shared spaces for learning, teaching, and socializing as well as practical work areas.
The facility and site inform the community and staff about their surroundings, drawing on the necklace of waterways and surrounding forest as design elements and functional tools for operation. Energy, materials, water quality, air quality, and waste reduction were essential partners when conceiving this project.
The new campus provides the district with everything it needs on site to keep the fleet of school buses and other vehicles running. Maintenance and grounds keeping personnel have access to ample storage and an 11,000-square-foot workshop with equipment for electrical repair, machine work, woodworking, welding, and painting. The garage and the workshop have windows with views, skylights, and warm radiant floors.
