Tacoma, WA

Fawcett Elementary School

Markets
Services
Features
Bioretention
Boundary Survey
Demolition Permit Package
Off-Site Roadway Upgrades Permit Package
On-Site Improvement Permit Package
Pedestrian Access
Playground Design
Progressive Design-Build (PDB)
Storm Filters
Stormwater
Synthetic Turf Playfield
Topography Survey
Traffic Flow
Replacement of the 72-year-old Fawcett Elementary School through a progressive design-build approach

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the Progressive Design-Build replacement of the 72-year-old Fawcett Elementary School. The project involved demolishing the existing facility and constructing a new 55,000-SF school designed to serve approximately 400 students on a compact, sloped 5.6-acre site.

To accelerate construction by three months, AHBL divided the work into three permit packages: demolition, on-site improvements, and off-site roadway upgrades. Civil engineers coordinated with utility providers to confirm existing systems were sufficient, avoiding costly upgrades. Stormwater was managed sustainably using bioretention and storm filters, eliminating the need for underground detention.

Landscape architects led site planning, including pedestrian access, traffic flow, and playground design. Mid-project, the team adapted plans to incorporate a synthetic turf playfield. Surveyors provided a comprehensive topographic and boundary survey to guide development. Together, these efforts delivered a modern, accessible learning environment tailored to the site’s unique constraints.

 

Teaming Partners

  • Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
  • Architect: BLRB Architects
  • Contractor: Hensel Phelps
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