Issaquah High School makes the relationship between building and place a priority. A courtyard in the center of the school opens to the surrounding mountain valley, while the “V”-shaped interior space surrounding this courtyard supports a transparent and open public commons. This commons is a shared space for all students and staff. It fosters a sense of community within the school and connects the interior experience back to the Cascade foothills.
Classrooms and teaching support spaces are contained in three independent three-story structures, rigorously organized to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration. They are joined by a circulation network that allows for several different paths, opening onto views of landscaped rain gardens or connecting back to the commons. This organization responds to the desired educational approach while reinforcing the benefits of informal collegial interaction.