UPON
REFLECTION THE EPS SCIENCE & SPORTS COMPLEX
By Bob Baldwin, Project Manager
U
PON REFLECTION, THE EASTSIDE PREP science and sports complex has been a serendipitous adventure. Back in 2011 the City of Kirkland, through a comprehensive plan amendment, approved a rezone of what is now known as the Yarrow Bay Zoning District. The new zoning allowed for the transit center across the street, together with two new residential housing projects, all currently under construction. The zoning has opened up a new array of possibilities for EPS as well. The school buildings, each of which was once limited to thirty feet in height, are now free to build up to sixty-five feet. And so, with the stroke of a City Councilman’s pen, EPS would have three times the available space out of thin air. The initial plan, of course, was far less adventurous. Back in February the school embarked upon a campaign to purchase more of the neighboring buildings. The funds were gathered to make an acquisition that proved difficult and never materialized, as sometimes happens. So upon reflection, the adventure moved instead to an attempt to capture this new-found air space. Conceptual designs began on the Art Studio (AS) and O’Hara Hall (OH) buildings. Over the ensuing weeks the architect and design team explored the opportunities and costs 12
EASTSIDE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
to construct a science facility that would be state-of-theart. As we continued to refine the design and program, another opportunity revealed itself. The available new air space far exceeded the program needs of the science facilities alone and so either we would face building a structure underutilizing the new zoning or we would need to expand the scope and explore additional needs. So what did we do with all the newfound space? We began to consider the possibility of adding a gym. It turned out, the gym needed a little more breathing room and so the design was refined and we moved the budding science and sports center to the site of the Upper School building. At the time of publication, this building is getting ready to break ground and the real excitement will begin. It will be disruptive and chaotic educating students with a significant construction project all around them, but the rewards far outweigh the temporary inconvenience. The program will include a ninety-seat amphitheater
Images: PUBLIC47 Architects