McCarver Elementary School Historical Modernization

Tacoma, Washington

Firm

DLR Group

Client

Tacoma School District No. 10

Area

80,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$26,700,000

Completion Date

07/2016

Constructed in 1925 and listed on historic registers, McCarver Elementary School has a legacy of leadership in educational practice. Serving a population of 450 students with one of the highest rates of poverty and homelessness in Washington, McCarver partners with community organizations to provide whole-family services within the school to support better student outcomes.
McCarver is the first project in the district’s robust, progressive, learner-centered vision for elementary education.
The modernization sought to blend a new vision for next-generation learning with a historic building by focusing on student ownership and a sense of belonging.
At the heart of the building, McCarver Square serves as the community centerpiece. By reconnecting to natural light and providing transparency to diverse, multilevel learning environments, McCarver Square promotes shared learning and community-focused activities in support of an International Baccalaureate curriculum.
The facility received significant energy-efficiency enhancements, seismic reinforcements, acccessibility improvements, and safety upgrades that will ensure the school’s durability for generations.