Downing Elementary

The Downing Elementary School project is a design build project for the Tacoma Public Schools. Something that is unique about this project compared to other school projects is that the project is utilizing a existing Boys & Girls Club building into the Schools new design. The DAC has collected ideas and feed back and the new Downing Elementary School is going to incorporate bright colors, an open and inviting courtyard and warm wood beam panels in the new library.

The existing school is home for about 350 preschool through fifth grade students. The current school was constructed in 1949 and has had several additions throughout the 1950s. This project is being funded by a $535 million school construction bond that was passed by voters in 2020.

A challenge that this project presents is building a new school while the old school is still active. The Tunista and Korsmo teams have spent a lot of time communicating and planning with each other and the owner’s representation company Parametrix to ensure that the project is completed while keeping the kids and parents safe.

The project is a two phased project. The first phase the Tunista and Korsmo Construction team start work on the Boys & Girls side of the project. This is located west of the main existing school. Installation of TESC measures including a temp pond to retain storm water collected from the site was completed first. Rough grading activities were next along with installation of CTB to create a stable working surface through the winter. Tunista and Korsmo Construction teams recognized that with the way the schedule had a large portion of work to happen in the summer of 2022. This included a large scale of ROW work happening at the same time. In noticing this the teams proposed to Parametrix and the owner to do 85 percent of the ROW work early in 2021 summer. This will help to complete the project on time and increase safety during construction. Tunista was able also complete most all utilities in phase 1 prior to the winter months. This allowed us to fully stabilize the site and hydroseed the pond and have it established prior to the wet season.

Phase two starts after school is dismissed in 2022. The phase will consist of the demolition of the existing school building and the existing hardscapes. Then construction will start to complete the new bus loop, parking areas, landscape areas, and finish the last 15 percent of ROW. Tunista and Korsmo Construction teams have planning for the completion phase of work since the beginning. This planning will allow for project to finish on time with a very tight aggressive end to a project and for it to be completed safely.

Contractor:
Korsmo Construction
1940 East D St.
Tacoma, Wa. 98421

Client:
Tacoma Public Schools
601 South 8th St.
Tacoma, Wa 98405

Engineer:
ESM Consulting Engineers LLC
33400 8th Ave South, Suite 205
Federal Way, Wa. 98003

Contract Type:
Design-Build

Start Date (NTP):
April 6, 2021

Completion Date:
October 31, 2022

Original Contract Amount:
$2,658,785.00