The school opened in 1952 as Casper W. Sharples Junior High. The anticipated scope includes removing the portables and modernizing most of the existing building. By modernizing and constructing an addition, the school will be reconfigured to better align with the current middle school educational specifications.

The project will include:

• Structural upgrades to improve earthquake resistance.
• Replacement of all windows, doors, and roofing, renovation of interior and exterior finishes.
• Replacement of plumbing, heating, fire alarm, technology, and electrical systems.

The amount of daylight and temperatures in classrooms will be improved. Sustainable features will be incorporated to meet district goals for clean energy and renewable resources. These include geothermal wells for heating and photovoltaic panels (solar panels) to generate electricity.

Approximately 25,000 square feet of the existing building in the northwest corner will be demolished to make room for a 2- or 3-story classroom addition. The addition will be approximately 65,000 square feet. Including the addition, permanent space will be provided for up to 1,000 students in grades 6-8. The site will also be red

How is the project funded?

The Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX VI), approved by voters in February 2019, included money to pay for the initial phases of design. The Building Excellence VI Capital Levy (BEX VI), approved by voters in February 2025, includes the funding for the remaining phases including construction.

SPS conducted a master plan review to determine if the existing Aki Kurose MS building could be modernized. It was originally designed to be a junior high school, so it was determined it can readily be reconfigured to meet the district’s middle school educational specifications. Evaluations showed that the building is well-built, is in good condition, and that it can be updated to current building codes. Renovation was preferred over replacement to be consistent with the Seattle School Board’s policies* to optimize resource conservation.

* The School Board has adopted resolutions and policies committing to long-range sustainability actions, including the Climate Change Resolution, the Green Resolution, Policy 6810 Natural Resource Conservation, a 100% clean energy by 2040 plan. That resolution includes the following language: “Reuse: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from district purchases of goods and materials (including construction and demolition waste) through reuse”. When analysis indicates an existing building can be reconfigured to meet current educational specifications, renovation rather than replacement is preferred because it is consistent with the Board’s policies to optimize resource conservation.

Students will attend school at the Van Asselt School interim site. Van Asselt was expanded with a classroom addition and a middle-school sized gym, to accommodate up to 1,000 middle school students as of 2023. Aki Kurose Middle School will be at the Van Asselt School interim site from September 2026–June 2028.

The risks involved in demolishing and constructing buildings around students, as well as the inevitable disruptions to learning means it’s better to move students to an interim site when one is available. A recent example is Asa Mercer International Middle School, which is currently occupying the Van Asselt School interim site during construction the new Mercer building.

Two recent school replacement projects had students remain on site during construction: Rainier Beach High School and James Baldwin Elementary (formerly Northgate Elementary School).

For Rainier Beach, there was no alternative site large enough to operate a high school. In addition, the Rainier Beach school site is over 21 acres, which allowed phased demolition and construction of the new building while students occupied other portions of the site.

With James Baldwin, two elementary schools in the same region were being rebuilt at the same time. One school (Viewlands Elementary School) moved to the interim site at John Marshall School. James Baldwin Elementary School was able to be rebuilt while students remained in the old building because the playfield was big enough to build on without removing the old Northgate Elementary School Building.

As Aki Kurose has one of the smallest middle school sites in the district, it would be too difficult to provide enough space for the contractor to work while retaining enough building to conduct programs. There would be significant impacts and disruptions (air quality, noise, power, water, parking, safe walkways, etc.) as portions of the building get demolished. With a renovation, utilities are replaced from the ground up, meaning entire plumbing, heating and lighting systems are replaced. Keeping portions of a school operational would be nearly impossible for this project.

Welcome

• Land acknowledgement

Welcome and Introductions

• Reflection on “Graham Street,” a poem by Leija Farr
• Aki Kurose school community awareness

Engagement Commitment

• Roots of our engagement work
• Stakeholder and community engagement plan

Project Influences

• What shapes the project?
• Budget, scope, schedule update

Team and Project Commitment and Values

• Proposed SDAT schedule

Next Steps

• SDAT 2
• Reach out to your networks, photo safari

• Starting the Aki SDAT process by listening to participants and sharing what shapes the project.
• Forming a team with an understanding of the Aki community and its shared values.
• Introduction to the Stakeholder & Community Engagement Plan, including upcoming engagement opportunities.
• Sharing team commitments and project values that will help guide our work together as well as the design of Aki.

Welcome

• Land acknowledgement

Reflect and Report Back

• Review of SDAT 1
• Key outstanding questions from SDAT 1
• Neighborhood and School engagement summary
• SDAT members sharing feedback from their networks

Black Space Manifesto

• Principles that resonate
• Research, share, and reflect to inform design

Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP)

• Culturally responsive social emotional supports
• Creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and collaborative learning
• Culturally responsive strategies that support belonging and relationships

Photo Safari Review

Next Steps

• SDAT 3 virtual tours
• Optional in-person tours
• Photo safari 2

• Feedback from recent engagement events and upcoming opportunities; report backs from SDAT member networks
• The Black Space Manifesto and how it can inform our work on the project
• The CSIP and how it can be applied to the project moving forward
• Photo safari images indicating exemplary places and how they shape the Aki Kurose community identity

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Reflect and Report Backs

• Review of SDAT 2
• Neighborhood and School Engagement Summary
• SDAT members sharing of feedback from their networks

Black Space Manifesto

• Further reflection since last time
• Principles that participants are bringing with intention to the meeting today

Discussion

• How do you hope to feel walking into the new Aki Kurose?
• Responses from prompts paired with images to represent the words

School Tours

• Virtual Meadowdale Middle School, Islander Middle School
• Recap of in-person tours — James Baldwin Elementary School, Lincoln High School

Next Steps

• SDAT 4
• In-persons tour two south middle schools

• Feedback from recent engagement events and upcoming opportunities, report backs from SDAT member networks
• Further reflection on the Black Space Manifesto and how it can inform our work on the project. Black Space Manifesto link: Black Space Manifesto
• How community feedback regarding the hopes for the Aki project can be associated with images and architectural elements
• Building a visual vocabulary and understanding the relationships toward design priorities.

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Reflect and Report Backs

• Review of SDAT 3
• Black Space Manifesto centering
• Neighborhood and school engagement summary, project contacts, and links
• SDAT members sharing feedback from their networks

Design Goals

• SDAT framework: where we are and remaining meetings
• Discussion of compiled stakeholder feedback: “What we are hearing”
• SPS design principles
• Small group discussion of project-specific design goals

School Tours

• Recap of in-person tours: Surprise Lake Middle School and Glacier Middle School

Site Opportunities

• Workshop overall site opportunities

Next Steps

• SDAT #5

• Feedback from recent engagement events and upcoming opportunities; report backs from SDAT member networks
• Further reflection on the Black Space Manifesto and how it can inform our work on the project — Black Space Manifesto link: Black Space Manifesto
• Feedback on design goals; project team to prepare draft for next meeting
• Introduction to site opportunities at Aki Kurose

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Reflect and Reports Back

• Review of SDAT 4
• Black Space Manifesto Centering
• Neighborhood and School Engagement summary, project contacts and links
• SDAT members share feedback from their networks

Design Goals Refinement

• SDAT framework — Where we are and remaining meetings
• SPS design goals
• Edits, discussion of Aki Kurose design goals
• SPS Educational Specifications overview

Concepts

• Workshop 3 concepts for overall building and site organization
• Discuss relative to design goals and priorities

Next Steps

• SDAT 6

• Feedback from recent engagement events and upcoming opportunities, reports back from SDAT member network
• Further reflection on the Black Space Manifesto and how it can inform our work on the project — Black Space Manifesto link: Black Space Manifesto
• Refinement of design goals
• Introduction of three concepts for project
  • Unifying Climb: Stair in commons and skybridge across courtyard to connect academic neighborhoods
  • New Connections: New entry with connection to commons, and commons/gymnasium connection
  • Graham Central: Student functions move to central east/west spine along Graham Street, academic neighborhoods all on second floor
• Feedback on elements of concepts to move forward with; eliminated Graham Central from further study

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Reflect and Reports Back

• Review of SDAT #5
• Black Space Manifesto Centering
• Neighborhood and School Engagement summary, project contacts, and links
• SDAT members share feedback from their nextworks

Design Goals, Concepts

• SDAT Frameword — where we are and remaining meetings
• Aki Kurose Design Goals (refinements made)
• Review of Concepts, including plan layouts, models, and views
  • Concept 1 — Unifying Climb: Stairs in commons and skybridge across courtyard to connect academic neighborhoods.
  • Concept 2 — New Connections: New entry with connection to commons, gym/commons connection

Next Steps

• SDAT &

• Feedback from recent engagement events and upcoming opportunities, reports back from SDAT member nextworks.
• Further reflection on the Black Space Manifesto and how it can information our work on the project. Black Space Manifesto
• Concept evaluation to develop priorities; design team to develop one concept for SDAT 7.
  • Priorities included: New entry, commons/courtyard/gym connections from New Connections concept and enclosed courtyard addition from Unifying Climb concept.