FERNDALE, Wash. — When voters approved the $112 million bond issue it was said the money would be used to, among other smaller projects, build a new 2-story high school building to replace existing Ferndale High School classrooms, modernize the auditorium and make repairs and upgrades to the elementary and middle schools.
An undated draft plan showed how this could be accomplished.
The draft plan showed the proposed new building to be located in existing open areas so classes could continue in current buildings during construction, minimizing disruption to students and staff.
Since then, the Ferndale School District has undertaken more in-depth site assessments and hired Dykeman Architects and Cornerstone General Contractors to develop more detailed site plan options based on those findings.
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The following site plan options and their associated benefits and challenges were presented to the Design Advisory Committee during a November 26th meeting.
Benefits
Flat Topography
Less complex construction access
More favorable construction laydown/staging
Possible reduction in frontage improvements
Minimize existing parking impacts
Good separation of public / private
Good adjacency to PAC and fields
Challenges
Deeper bearing soils
Water table concern
Likely building phasing requirements
Possible loss of use of gym
Likely extended loss of use of football field for storm construction
Need to demo existing CTE building
Benefits
Less concerning water table
Shallower depths to bearing soils
Weight room can remain (challenge with adjacency)
Adjacency to PAC
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Challenges
Challenging topography (concerns with natural light, grading, etc.)
Complex construction access
Constrained construction laydown/staging
Likely higher site area development
Need to replace tennis courts
Less opportunity for future expansion
Need to demo existing CTE
Assumed frontage improvements
Benefits
Flat Topography
Less complex construction access
More favorable construction laydown/staging
Possible reduction in frontage improvements
More favorable storm detention construction
Weight room can remain (challenge with adjacency)
Minimize existing parking impacts
Good adjacency to PAC and fields
Challenges
Deepest bearing soils
Highest water table concerns
Likely most complex building phasing requirements
Likely higher site area development
Implication to bus parking
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