First Phase of Shorecrest Renovation to be Completed by September

Shorecrest students will be returning to a brand new academic building, after the 2013 winter break, the school district estimates.

Construction on the three-level facility is slated to begin this summer, after the demolition of the school’s current gymnasium, J Hall, and S Hall.

The new academic building is part of a larger modernization plan that began when the voters, in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, approved a $150 million bond, for renovations of Shorecrest and Shorewood, in 2010.

The volleyball team will begin its season, this September, in the new gymnasium which will be ready for use in time for the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, according to Craig Degginger, Shoreline School District’s Public Information Officer.

“Meanwhile, work continues on the performing and visual arts building that will surround the existing theater,” said Degginger. “This building is scheduled for completion late in 2012.”

With the exception of the new theater, which will be expanded to include arts and music programs, the new buildings will be set back farther from 25th Avenue Northeast than the current structures, creating a more secure campus.

"It's great that they're updating Shorecrest,” said Shorecrest senior, Haley Monson. “I'm just sad that I won't be able to reap the benefits!”

Monson, a member of Shorecrest’s Wesco 3A Championship tennis team, said that having to drive to the Shoreline Center for matches was frustrating initially, but insisted that it eventually became routine and did not negatively affect their season.

With the construction, and the downsizing from two main parking lots to one, the school days are slightly more hectic than normal at Shorecrest.

“All of the students seem to be adapting to the changes pretty easily though,” said Monson.

The renovation plans, which are generally regarded with favor, were marred by some controversy when four Giant Sequoia trees were cut down, at the northern edge of the campus, prompting a backlash from community members who were unhappy with the environmentally unfriendly move.

The school district responded by declaring that the “tree removal was clearly marked on the plans submitted to and approved by the City of Shoreline as part of the permitting process for the Shorecrest construction project.”

Forty-two percent of the existing significant trees on the Shorecrest site will be retained, in addition to a significant number of replacement trees.

Some lockers demolished late last year had items in them left by students, which were replaced. The new school will reflect the consistent decline in demand for lockers.