While the details are still being determined, the Yelm Community Schools Board of Directors got their first look Thursday, July 25, at what the new Yelm Middle School could possibly look like when it opens to students and parents in September 2021.

A detailed landscape plat and preliminary floor plans of the two-story, 100,000 square-foot building were also presented to the board, providing greater detail into what the completed project will eventually look like.

Heather Hocklander, associate architect with BCRA Design, said the computer-generated renderings and layout are still works in progress though, and that as the cost is determined and design elements are finalized, a clearer picture of the project should take shape.

“This is not a final document by any means,” Hocklander said. “We’re looking at some outdoor classroom opportunities, looking at the angle of the building and taking advantage of the view to Mount Rainier. We’re still reaching out and partnering with the tribe. So, there’s still layers of development and detailing and discussion to still be had.”

The preliminary project documents were guided by a recent education specification study completed by BCRA, which aimed to narrow in on the needs of the school, its staff and students.

Newly-hired Yelm Middle School Principal Stephen Rood said he was impressed when he got a first look at the computer-generated renderings.

The project is currently in the cost-estimating stage of development, Hocklander said. BCRA and Forma, the primary contractor to rebuild Yelm Middle School and Southworth Elementary, will be collaborating back and forth within the next few weeks to determine if the budget will account for everything shown.

“They’ll be sharing the cost with us and we’ll be going back and forth on (if) we have the right quantities, are we accounting for everything that’s in the project, then we’ll be looking at the budget,” Hocklander said. “It’s not just about meeting the budget, but is the cost reflecting everything we’ve drawn and shown.”

BCRA and Forma will come to the school board in August and ask the board to approve conceptual designs and to move the project forward with construction documents. A cost estimate will be given to the board at that time.

“In order for us to go ahead and take that risk to move forward, we need you guys to bless where we’re at,” Kasey Wyatt, project manager, told the board during the meeting.

In December, Forma and BCRA will begin development of construction documentation.

“That’s really the nuts and bolts,” Wyatt said.

Forma will begin subcontracting in March, Wyatt said. Forma will also likely subcontract the rebuild of the middle school’s football field and baseball field.

Overall, everyone has been on board and positive about where BCRA and Forma are headed, Wyatt said.

According to floor plans, the new Yelm Middle School will have over 30 new classrooms and labs. The first floor will host sixth grade classrooms, an art lab, a career and technical education classroom, a choir room, a band room, a performance stage and two gymnasiums, among other features.

Seventh and eighth grade classrooms will be separated in two wings on the second floor. There will also be a circulation-library room on the second floor, as well as a shared learning center.

Outside, a bus port will divide the campus into two halves, allowing for easy access to sports facilities on the southwest end and the school on the northern end. A large, multi-use field will be available on the corner of Coates Avenue and Edwards Street.

The parent dropoff area is expected to be constructed along Coates Avenue. Wyatt said that they’re finishing up a transportation impact analysis and that they believe there shouldn’t be any impact to traffic by moving the parent dropoff area onto another street.

“Traffic flow has never been a huge issues at the middle school as it has been at other schools. We don’t believe it’s going to have any impact other than what’s already existed. It’s not going to bog things down,” she said.

The new facility will serve 725 students.