Illahee Middle School

illahee middle school

Federal Way, Washington

Client

Federal Way Public Schools

year

2025

This replacement school will replace a well-loved and well-worn California style campus. The design of the new school was inspired by the stories of three adventurers, frog, bear and squirrel, in their quest to learn about the impact of global warming. 

The new school will be built on the footprint of the existing school with a focus on preserving the forested spaces on campus. The courtyard will be framed in three sides by new buildings and on the fourth by the forest. The massing of the buildings has a protective character, much like that of a castle. Tower elements flank the entrance and mark the building corners. Between the entrance towers a main canopy spans over a rain garden like a drawbridge. 

Within the school, experiential graphics continue the story of the three scholars: frog, bear, and squirrel tracks wander through the halls and biophilic graphics support their journey. Today’s scholars will pick up their story where frog, bear, and squirrel leave off  -- making their own tale of adventure as they grow and learn.