You can’t help but say “Wow!” as you walk into the new Tyee Middle School for the first time.
The school’s immediate “wow-factor” is undeniable. Light streams through huge windows into the large, open commons area, where students gather on benches made from beams recycled from their old school. Display cases feature colorful student artwork and trophies for academic achievement. An open staircase leads students to the second floor library, while a stroll down the hallway will take you to art and science classrooms that look out onto a peaceful courtyard.
“When students and parents walk through the door, they’ll be proud that this is a school in the Bellevue School District,” says Principal Aaron Miller. “It really is an inspiring place to come every day. It’s something that our community should be very proud of.”
The new 130,000 square foot Tyee Middle School is 30% larger than the building it replaced. It’s also the first Bellevue middle school to be rebuilt since voters passed a $545 million Capital Construction Bond in 2008.
Some of the features of the new Tyee include:
- Art and science classrooms open onto a courtyard that provides opportunities for outdoor learning and collaboration
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) space with a workshop for hands-on learning and a separate technology lab
- State-of-the-art music practice rooms with noise control
- Larger classrooms, with more storage space and pin-up areas for displaying student work
- Additional computer labs
- New tennis courts, playfields and covered play area
- Natural water quality treatment system that requires no maintenance; reducing operating costs and providing a teaching tool for students
- Added windows and skylights to minimize the need for artificial lighting
- Wooden beams and gym floors recycled from the “old Tyee” and incorporated into the new design
To get a glimpse inside, tag along as Tyee students lead us on a tour of their new school in this video.