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A new, two building, 134,000-square-foot replacement is in the works for Lake Oswego Junior High School. The new Lake Oswego Middle School is one of the flagship projects that moved forward after voters in November 2022 passed a $180 million bond measure.

BRIC Architecture designed the school for Lake Oswego School District. The project team also includes civil and structural engineer KPFF, landscape architect RANGE, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer PAE.

The new school will occupy the same site as the existing one, at 2500 Country Club Road. Two main buildings are designed to evoke Pacific Northwest ecosystems, with the classroom building representing greens of the forest, and the commons, music and gymnasium building representing open skies of the meadow, BRIC stated in an email. The library will be in the second-floor connector; it鈥檚 referred to as the ecotone 鈥� a transitional zone between the ecosystems.

The design team pursued student engagement and gained feedback to create places that feel inspiring, safe, and reflect students and their community, BRIC stated. Additionally, the school is designed to reflect the ecosystems and history of Lake Oswego and the Pacific Northwest. Learning neighborhoods are within the 鈥榝orest,鈥� while active areas for movement, gathering, dining, etc. are in the 鈥榤eadow.鈥�

鈥淥ur material and color palette highlights naturally colored Douglas fir in the exposed roof decking,鈥� principal David Johnson stated.

This material is exposed both to exterior and interior areas at the main entry and in the commons and library.聽Additionally, black-stained wood is used as an interior wall finish material to highlight important areas and to recall the logging, charcoal production and iron mining history that shaped Lake Oswego, Johnson said.聽The balanced material palette uses a variety of greens to recall regional new and old growth forests, while a collection of blues and grays recall Oregon open spaces and meadows.

The design promotes and facilitates connections to the site, nearby Springbrook Park and the Lake Oswego community through access to a public commons area to the east for gathering and arrival, a secure student outdoor courtyard to the west, and a south commons area that connects to the sports field and is meant for play and dining.

Inside that building, students will have places to connect with friends and staff. The design also prioritizes stress reduction.

Amenities for the new school will include grade-level classroom wings that provide diverse learning spaces, main and auxiliary gymnasiums, a music suite and a two-story commons with amphitheater-style learning stairs to support opportunities for performances and student dining. Exterior areas will include a secure courtyard, a covered play and dining area, outdoor learning areas and a new multipurpose field.

The building is designed to meet Energy Trust of Oregon鈥檚 Path to Net Zero goals. This program supports project teams in establishing and advancing Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets and energy efficient strategies through resources and incentives. Lake Oswego Middle School will use a variety of strategies to meet energy reduction goals and to increase energy performance, including rooftop photovoltaic arrays, resilient stormwater management, mitigation and recovery, biophilic design, daylighting design, a highly insulated and energy efficient envelope, and super-efficient electric heating and cooling systems paired with natural ventilation and passive cooling.

The estimated total project cost is approximately $88.8 million.

Bids will open for a general contractor in early November with a quick selection. A select list of prequalified general contractors will be able to participate in bidding, Johnson said.

Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2024 with demolition of the existing school. Before work begins, students and staff will relocate to Uplands Elementary School, where modular classrooms will be on-site.

The new school is scheduled to open in fall 2026.

On the Boards is a 91视频 feature offering a look at projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm鈥檚 projects considered, contact the 91视频 at 503-802-7221 or聽[email protected].