Boze Elementary School

AHBL is a proud team member for the first Progressive Design-Build (PDB) K-12 project in Washington State: Tacoma Public School’s Boze Elementary School. The $25 million (design and construction) replacement facility on the campus of Boze Elementary School features a number of amenities targeted toward a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, and serve as a new model of education for Tacoma Public Schools.

AHBL was hired to provide structural engineering for the replacement school, which will house approximately 550 students from preschool through fifth grade. The new structure spans more than 57,000 square feet across two stories and was constructed on the campus of the existing school, which remained operational throughout construction (up until the COVID-19 pandemic). The structural scope comprised the design of the wood-frame school (complete with gymnasium, cafeteria, indoor mechanical room, and community spaces) and outdoor covered play structures. 

AHBL’s experience at Boze Elementary School resulted in remarkable schedule efficiency. As a direct result of the PDB approach, the school went from Notice to Proceed to groundbreaking in 11 months. This came about because of a true team effort, and took collaboration and commitment from all design-build partners, as well as from the City of Tacoma. This project utilized an early site and foundation package to allow construction to start while permitting for the superstructure was still under review.

Photography: Jeff Caven

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: BCRA Designs