How often do you have the Governor at your ribbon-cutting! The first CLT Classroom Project is complete with Governor Jay Inslee doing the honors on May 19 at Jefferson Elementary in Mt. Vernon, Washington. The building is part of a statewide pilot project using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), that will generate much-needed classroom space in beautiful, permanent wood structures.
Thanks to our WALSH team for all their hard work as we celebrate this effort and look forward to the completion of two more CLT projects! On May 30, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz spoke at the installation of the Maple Elementary classrooms in Seattle, calling CLT ”a win across the board” that “gives architects and builders a beautiful new building material and can provide our kids with inspiring new spaces for learning.” Leading our WALSH team, John Gilson sees the benefits of cross laminated timber clearly demonstrated in the installation as well as the finished product: “Putting it together is a pleasure, not only because of the ease of assembly, but because we know that we’re creating an uplifting environment for Seattle schoolkids.”
The timeline of the K-3 Modular Classrooms has been impressive. The four-classroom building at Greywolf Elementary in Sequim was erected in a single day and is on track to complete on June 23. These fast-moving projects are creating attractive, innovative classrooms for students to enjoy at the start of the new school year.
We’re excited to be working with Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and Mahlum on this ground-breaking project. Links to the Mt. Vernon and Sequim projects are here. RDF is self-performing framing, exterior cladding, window/wrb, rough/finish carpentry, concrete, and earthwork! Thanks to all our good people at RDF and thanks to the WALSH Team of John Gilson, Nathan Connaway, Wendy Kato, James Conway, Chris Jeppesen and Afton Walsh!
Links to project news:
High Tech Wood – The New Hope for School Infrastructure? (King 5)
Seattle Begins Construction on Cross Laminated Timber School (King 5)
House Capital Budget Committee – Jan. 27, 2017