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architect drawing of a 2 story building entrance with a covered area in front
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Seattle Public Schools/Departments/Capital Projects and Planning/School Design and Construction/Projects/Recent Completed Projects/Northgate (now Baldwin)

Northgate (now Baldwin)

Northgate Elementary School Replacement Project

School renamed James Baldwin Elementary School

The existing school building has been replaced with a new school building with a new name on the same site.

James Baldwin Elementary School opened for students on September 6, 2023.

Notice

Seattle Public Utilities will be working on a Natural Drainage System (NDS) along NW 120th Street and NW 117th Street around James Baldwin Elementary.

If you have questions regarding this work, please contact Seattle Public Utilities. More information is available on the city’s website.

About the Project

The new two-story elementary school building provides the spaces and resources that students need for academic success. The approximately 95,000 square foot school meets the district’s elementary educational specifications and provides space for up to 650 students. A collaborative process resulted in a building designed to fit into the neighborhood. It will provide outdoor learning, play, and recreation areas.

The new school has been designed to provide an equitable, safe, and inspiring learning environment for the entire school community. Learning clusters have classrooms surrounding learning commons.

Sustainable Design and Construction

In keeping with SPS’s clean energy goals, operation of the new school does use fossil fuels. In addition, the roof is designed to accommodate solar panels, which could offset 80% of the building’s energy use in the future.

Features to reduce energy use:

  • Geothermal heating
  • Highly efficient ventilation that recovers heat before air leaves the school
  • Energy-efficient LED lighting
  • Highly insulated walls and roofs
  • High performance fiberglass windows

Other sustainable design strategies:

  • Storm water management with rain gardens
  • Native and drought-resistant plantings
  • Shielded site lighting to reduce light pollution
  • Demolition and construction debris sorted and recycled

Projected Energy Use Index (EUI): 17.3

Design Firm: NAC Architecture

General Contractor/Construction Management: Lydig Construction

Project Budget: $90.3M

Funding Source: Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2019.

Project Photos

an I-beam painted white with signatures
Northgate Elementary School students signed one of the beams for the new school – Dec. 2021
a wall on a stairwell has a signed steel beam embedded in it
Beam signed by students early in construction now located in stairway – Feb. 2023
a sliding glass interior door
Interior sliding doors installed in classroom – Jan. 2023
tubular ceiling lights hang from a high ceiling with a stairway below them
Entry lights installed – Feb. 2023
a stairway with a landing in the middle that makes a right angle turn
West stair way view – Feb. 2023
a classrom wall section has a nook below cabinets that includes two facing benches with a ledge between them. next to them is open shelving below a window. Both areas are highlighted by bright green accents
Cozy nook and shelving in art classroom – March 2023
tube shaped light fixtures hang from a high ceiling in a two story space with a stairway
Lighting installed – April 2023
looking down into a large space with a stairway for walking, a stairway for sitting, and a slide
Learning stairs and slide in the commons – April 2023
A curved three tier bench in a the corner of a room
Group learning area in library – April 2023
a curved wall with windows has bookshelves below the windows
Casework in the library – April 2023
part of a two story building with a canopy that has wood edge and windows. a sign on the building says James Baldwin Elementary
Entrance to new building with new school name – May 2023
an interior stair leads up from a concrete floor past a group of windows. there is a slide next to the stairs
Stair in the commons toward the entry to the space – May 2023
interior space with a reception desk. wall behind says James Baldwin Elementary
Welcoming reception area – June 2023
view from halfway up stairs on a landing. you can see part of the second floor with a curved glass wall and part of the lower floor.
Central gathering area near the main entrance – June 2023
aerial photo of a large building with a road at the top and trees along the road
Aerial view -August 2023
indoor space with a slated ceiling, a table, stools, and a counter and sink. it is separated from the hall by a partial wall
Learning commons with furniture installed
part of a hallway with doors set back from the path by tile. a sink hangs on the wall at one end
Student restrooms and handwashing – June 2023
a room with two refrigerators, cabinetry, a stove, two microwaves, and some tables and chairs
Completed staff lounge – June 2023
part of a hallway with wood benches on one side by the windows and a curved nook on the other side
Central hallway – June 2023
looking toward a stairway leading up in front of windows with a wooden platform underneath
Stairway to second floor – June 2023
a classroom has groups of tables with chairs, bookcases, whiteboards, lighting and ceiling fans
Classroom with furniture installed – June 2023
a small room with a video screen, windows on one wall, a half circle table and five stools
Small group space with furniture installed – June 2023
outdoor looking toward a long low building with a stairway, concrete walk, and construction materials in front of it
Demolition of old Northgate Elementary School building to begin in July – June 2023
looking up a walkway toward a one and two story building with a covered entry and window frames that are orange and green
Front entry of new James Baldwin Elementary School – August 2023
a parking lot next to a one story building with an orange window frame
New staff parking lot – August 2023
an excavator is demolishing a building
Demolition of the old Northgate Elementary building – July 2023
aerial view of a large building with a white roof with a construction area behind it. the freeway can be seen in the background
Aerial view of new building with old building demolition complete – August 2023
aerial view of a construction area next to a new building
Old school has been demolished and work has begun on the outdoor play areas – August 2023
high angle view of a large building and trees
Completed school building with play area and play field in progress – Sept. 2023
aerial view of a large building and paved areas with some construction work taking place in the lower portion
Aerial view looking north – Oct. 2023
aerial view of a large building with a dirt field to the left and parking lots in front
View of the school with the future field to the left – Nov. 2023
people installing a play structure with equipment
Installing the play structures – Nov. 2023
a paved area with striping painted on it
Traffic garden striping – Dec. 2023
a green grass playfield with a concrete walkway
Field turf installed – Dec. 2023

James Baldwin Elementary School

11725 1st Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125

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