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Highline Public Schools
15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW Burien, WA 98166

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Highline Virtual Academy
11427 3rd Avenue South

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Emergency Home for IHA & HVA Opens

Emergency Home for IHA & HVA Opens
Group of people in front of school

Bold Renovation Effort Transforms Original Beverly Park Site

Learn eight facts about our emergency renovation of the Original Beverly Park Site, which opened for school on September 4.

A significant fire at the Southern Heights Site displaced two schools—Innovation Heights Academy and Highline Virtual Academy—during summer break. 

Following the July 10 fire, the countdown began to decide where IHA and HVA could relocate before the start of school. After determining the Original Beverly Park Site was the best option, teams had less than a month to prepare the building, a record-breaking pace for a project this size. 

Our Capital Planning & Construction team hired FORMA Construction as the general contractor. Crews from FORMA and their subcontractors worked long hours, seven days a week to renovate the 1950s Original Beverly Park Site. 

Our top priority was to provide students and staff with a safe and comfortable learning environment by the first day of school in September. We are working with our insurance company for reimbursement and anticipate that most costs will be covered.

Renovations included cleaning, adding restroom accessibility, painting, installing new flooring, making electrical and plumbing improvements, and more. Some renovation work will continue in the evenings and weekends after the school year begins. We expect renovation work to continue through January. 

Photo of classroom with students

“As a voter of the district as well as an employee, I am super thankful and proud of how fast the district leaders, superintendent and board came together to make sure HVA and IHA were supported,” said HVA teacher Calvin Allan.  

Superintendent Ivan Duran expressed thanks to all who worked hard to renovate the Original Beverly Park Site to open on time for school. He also thanked our neighbors and community. 

"We appreciate the support of our neighbors at both sites, our school board and our community as we pivot our facility plans to support our students and staff,” said Dr. Duran. 

Here are eight amazing facts about this emergency renovation project, highlighting the monumental task and brief timeline we faced to get the facility ready to be a school again!

Surprising Facts 

  1. Applied 835 gallons of paint in under 24 days.
     
  2. Installed 33,800 square feet of flooring in just 18 days.
     
  3. The demolition and removal contractor completed 2,563 hours of work within 23 days.
     
  4. Initial reports from subcontractors indicated 19 consecutive days of perfect attendance for craft personnel.
     
  5. The peak number of construction staff on-site reached 84.
     
  6. On August 5, the county inspector and fire marshal outlined their occupancy requirements, and 23 days later, we received approval to occupy the space.
     
  7. Approximately 30% of the project scope was identified or revealed after work had begun.
     
  8. About 80% of subcontractors were on site and working with less than a week's notice.
Photo of two people in construction vests and hats talking

“It was cool to be able to jump in when Highline needed us. At the end of the day, getting kids back in school was the goal. It was pretty amazing to see everyone pulling together,” said FORMA’s Site Superintendent Seth Stenerodden.

“We have a reputation for jumping in and acting fast, when clients experience events outside their control,” he said. “We have a large labor force to pull from. We have resources and relationships with our trade partners that go back a long time.”

Photo of two people moving tables

When school staff moved in to unpack on Friday, August 30, a crew of Highline’s Facilities staff and custodians were everywhere all at once, delivering boxes and furniture. Digital Transformation staff were distributing hotspots and digital devices. Superintendent Duran, School Board members, Highline Education Association leaders, and members of Cabinet were also on hand to lend help.

Photo of Technology Services staff at work

A school staff member watching a delivery said,  “It is so amazing that we were able to get additional stuff from the warehouse here today (on the Friday before Labor Day). They did an awesome job for us.”

Truck delivering to a school

 


September 4, 2024 - First Day of School

People holding welcome signs

 

Several people in school entrance

 

Students in school

 

Students sitting in a circle in classroom

 

Two photos of people standing together

 

Side of school building and trees

 


Early August 2024 - When We Began

Photo of Original Beverly Park School with Construction Zone Sign on Fence

 

Photo of Original Beverly Park School with Construction Equipment

Check out our September 5, 2024 Facebook post to see more photos of move-in day and the first day of school at the Original Beverly Park Site and interim home of Innovation Heights Academy and Highline Virtual Academy.