Tour the new Shorewood on Saturday from 1-4pm

Entrance to the new Shorewood High School
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

The community is invited to an open house and dedication of the new Shorewood High School from 1 to 4pm Saturday, Oct. 12. A dedication program will be held in the gymnasium at 1:30pm with self-guided tours of the school to follow. 

On-site parking will be limited at Shorewood; please use the south parking lot entrance on North 170th Street. Overflow parking will be available at the former Haggen grocery store at 1201 N.175th, one block east of Aurora. A shuttle will run continuously between Haggen and Shorewood High School.

Enjoy milk and whole-grain chocolate chip cookies in the cafeteria and delicious appetizers from culinary arts in the commons. Student performers will rotate in performances in the theater, including a scene from the school’s fall play, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” a chamber ensemble, choir and jazz combo.

Visit the Alumni Room adjacent to the commons prior to the dedication ceremony, or afterwards as part of your tour. Come in and sign up to be on the list for upcoming alumni opportunities and events, and to receive information about the future Shorewood Alumni Association.

The new Shorewood at 17300 Fremont Avenue North opened its doors to 1,500 students for the 2013-14 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Bassetti Architects of Seattle designed the 231,000-square-foot building and the general contractor is Bayley Construction.

The new Shorewood includes a 450-seat theater for school and community use, a main and auxiliary gymnasium, large areas for aerobics/fitness/weight training, auto shop, culinary arts and three-story classroom wings. The entry off North 175th Street leads into the commons and incorporates the landmark Ronald School, built in 1912, for performing arts. The campus also features an inviting south courtyard for students to enjoy during lunch and breaks between classes.

The old Shorewood, built in 1975 by combining the campuses of the old Ronald Elementary and Butler Junior High, is being demolished to make way for parking, athletic fields and tennis courts.

Shorecrest update

Across town, the main academic building at Shorecrest has risen to its full height and is expected to be ready for occupancy after mid-winter break in February 2014. The new gymnasium and performing arts center were completed during the previous school year. The current main academic building at Shorecrest was built in 1961 and will be demolished in 2014 when the new school is complete.

The designs for both buildings are in keeping with the educational specification goals for the projects adopted by the Shoreline School Board. These include creating a safe and secure environment for students, an environment that honors community values and promotes community access, and spaces that support a comprehensive educational experience.

The replacement of Shoreline’s two high schools was funded by a $150 million bond issue approved by voters in February 2010, along with more than $37 million in matching funds from the state.