Salk Middle School is the first new middle school in two decades for Spokane Public Schools, Washington’s second largest school district. The existing middle school had to remain operational throughout construction, dictating that the new school be located on the south side of the site, near a major state highway. Because of proximity to the highway, concerns included safe access to and from the school, and deterring use of the south edge of the site adjacent to the highway. In addition, the site changes elevation approximately 56 feet vertically from north to south, requiring use of modest slopes and terracing to manage the building’s relationship to the highway, the supporting site, parking, and playfields.

Over the past 15 years, the school district has renovated their high schools and elementary schools, but had not tackled the unique aesthetic and functional needs of a middle school since the 1990s. The design needed to foster a sense of welcome for the sixth graders while also having a material palette sophisticated enough for eighth graders to feel like it was preparing them for high school. A simple organization in plan, in conjunction with a material palette focused on a central boulevard with specific ceiling materials associated with destination and intersection points, helps identify all major school activities from the front door. General classroom wings extend from the south side of the boulevard with collaboration spaces central to the four general classrooms at the end of each wing. Major public/community elements on the north side of the boulevard align with the three classroom wings, making circulation connections across the main boulevard and providing a school that offers learning environments in a wide variety of sizes and amenities to support and enhance educational delivery and opportunity for every student and educator.