Park Place Middle School Modernization
Completed September 2018
Originally constructed in 1974, the campus first served as Monroe High School before transitioning into Monroe Junior High in 1999. With district-wide grade-level restructuring soon after, the school was renamed Park Place Middle School, serving students in grades 6 through 8.
The original “California-style” design—an open campus with separate buildings linked by outdoor breezeways—proved challenging over time, particularly for ensuring campus security and accommodating Washington’s rainy climate.
A Two-Year Transformation
The two-year modernization project began in June 2016 and was completed in September 2018. The result is a modern campus that spans 129,893 square feet—nearly 20,000 square feet larger than the previous facility—to accommodate a growing student population.
Modern Design and Learning Spaces
The new school was built with functionality, accessibility, and collaboration in mind:
- 32 classrooms are organized into smaller pods surrounding shared learning spaces, encouraging greater interaction among students and staff.
- The building now fully meets modern ADA accessibility standards.
- Specialized spaces include a new library, main office, commons, kitchen, special education facilities, and dedicated band and choir rooms.
- A new performing arts stage, fully renovated gym, and the addition of an auxiliary gym expand opportunities for student activities.
Safety and Security
Campus security was a top priority. The new facility includes:
- Indoor hallways to replace outdoor breezeways
- Secure entry systems and automatic door locks
- A controlled main entrance to create a safe, welcoming environment
- A fully fenced campus
Outdoor and Athletic Enhancements
The site now offers:
- 197 parking spaces—an increase of 53 compared to the previous design
- Outdoor improvements including a covered play area, courtyard, and updated athletic facilities
- All-weather synthetic turf fields, a lighted track, a modern fitness room, and expanded gym spaces to support both physical education and extracurricular programs
The total cost of the project reached approximately $62.4 million. This investment was made possible through a combination of funding sources: roughly $46.95 million provided by the community-approved bond measure, and an additional $15.4 million contributed through state construction program assistance.
The only remaining portion of the original facility that has not been modernized is the two-story F building, which was added in 1990 and once housed the school’s library. It is currently used for district storage and may be repurposed in the future, but will require additional funding to update its aging systems.