Hidden River Middle School Expansion
Completed in December 2019
Originally opened in 1999 as a starter school, the building had been intentionally designed to be built in phases. In its early form, Hidden River did not have specialized spaces for science labs, art instruction, or materials labs that support hands-on learning experiences like robotics or wood working.
The expansion project, which broke ground in June 2018, addressed these limitations and elevated both the safety and functionality of the school. A secure vestibule was added at the main entrance to strengthen security, while new classrooms were built to provide students with access to dedicated science, art, and career and technology learning environments. The kitchen was also expanded to better serve the school community.
The project added 23,653 square feet to the school, highlighted by a new wing. This addition included a modern commons and cafeteria, an updated kitchen, two science classrooms, two general-use classrooms, a visual arts classroom, and a STEM lab designed to support science, technology, engineering, and math education.
Outdoor spaces received significant upgrades as well, with a new all-weather synthetic turf football/soccer field, a new synthetic turf baseball field, and a jogging track.
Funding for the expansion totaled approximately $19.56 million. Of this amount, $6.78 million came from a voter-approved bond, while $12.78 million was provided through state construction program assistance.
This project was designed by Hutteball + Oremus Architecture, Inc. and constructed by Lincoln Construction of Spanaway, WA.