Auke Bay Elementary School

Transforming an aging school from the bare structure out - while class was still in session.

Summary

Type

Location

Juneau, Alaska

Client

Juneau Borough School District

size

49,000 square feet

Phase

Completed

Design Problem

At 45 years old, Auke Bay Elementary was overdue for everything — from its building systems to the way its spaces supported learning — and needed replacement. To qualify for maximum State funding, all of the new school had to fit within the existing footprint and be LEED Certified. Construction had to work around a school that never stopped.

Outdated HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and technology infrastructure
Out-dated seismic standards
Inaccessible split-level floors
Small, inflexible classrooms with limited natural light
Dark, disconnected community spaces
No clear or safe entry path from the street

Design Approach

The building was stripped to its post and beam structure. The front half of the second floor and roof was removed, bringing the entire upper level to one continuous, accessible plane. The full structure was brought to current seismic code, and space was opened for a new ground-source heat pump system.

Keeping the central gym and library wing in place, the team reimagined the layout from the inside out — designing for the way students and teachers actually work today. The lobby flows into the multi-purpose room, which opens to the gym. Circulation spaces look into the gym, giving the whole school a more connected, community feel. The main entry was repositioned to create a clear, safe arrival sequence for pedestrians, bikes, cars, and buses alike.

Proposed school incorporating new single-level second floor, more natural light, and clear wayfinding.

Proposed site plan with welcoming and safe site circulation.

Construction was divided into three phases, allowing a third of the building to be worked on at any time while the school community used the other two-thirds with minimal interruption.

Under construction while part of the school is still occupied.

Results

The new Auke Bay Elementary is a quiet homage to its mid-century modern roots — and a fully modern school in every way that matters.

Larger, flexible classrooms with more natural light and views of Auke Bay
Better connections between interior spaces and the outdoors
Fully ADA accessible throughout — no wasted space on ramps
Clear, safe entry and path of travel for every way of arriving
All uses successfully fit within the existing footprint, with exemptions granted for entry and stair towers

Auke Bay Elementary was the last — and one of the most successful — of several school modernizations completed by the district over many years.

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