The Port Angeles School District board ranked three finalist architecture teams competing to design a replacement Franklin Elementary School after hearing three presentations and public feedback and receiving the owner’s-representative review. The board identified Integris as its top-ranked firm, TCF Architecture second and the remaining presenter third; district staff will begin contract negotiations with the top-ranked team.

Board Director Nolan Deuce, the district’s director of capital projects, opened the meeting explaining the purpose: to hear each team, take public comment and then have the board provide a first, second and third ranking so staff could negotiate a contract with the selected firm. “All 3 could do the work,” Deuce said, adding that the next step would be negotiations after the board reached a majority ranking.

District and community members said the presentations focused on three priorities the district set: student-centered educational programming, keeping the project on time and on budget, and engaging the community — including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Several speakers from the firms emphasized work on occupied sites, cost control using continuous cost estimating and early permitting with the city.

Integris’ presentation stressed local outreach, continuity with the Stevens Middle School project and early GCCM (general-contractor/construction-manager) involvement to improve constructability and local subcontractor participation. TCF Architecture emphasized telling “the story” of Port Angeles through a place-based design and showed examples of tight schedules and cost controls on recent elementary projects. The first presenter highlighted learner‑centered design work, community workshops and cultural collaboration with tribal partners.

Members of the Franklin design advisory group (PACAC) and classroom teachers who spoke during public comment said the presentations differed in emphasis. Becky Lee, a Franklin kindergarten teacher, told the board she preferred the second presenter’s approach to site efficiency; another PACAC member said TCF’s work felt “focused on story and place” and praised its experience with district standards. The district’s owner’s-rep, Banner Construction Management, praised each team’s experience but flagged careful budget management and early cost‑estimating as decisive factors.

Board discussion focused on three technical issues that recurred during presentations and public comment: how to handle the two‑tier, sloped Franklin site (several presenters examined options to place the new building on the upper terrace and phase site work), traffic and drop‑off circulation on surrounding streets, and how to engage students in design and construction learning opportunities. Presenters repeatedly recommended an early pre‑application meeting with the city and early foundation/site permit submissions so phased work could begin without delaying the schedule. One firm noted that early phased permitting on a recent project produced about eight months of schedule savings; another said early procurement of long‑lead mechanical equipment reduced both schedule and escalation risk on a different job.

The board recorded its rankings at the meeting and directed staff to begin negotiations with the top‑ranked firm and to continue geotechnical, survey and traffic studies needed to finalize site plans and permitting. Presenters reiterated the district’s target opening window and schedule drivers: community engagement and permitting timelines. Multiple presenters described a path that would hold the project to the district’s planned opening month of June 2028 by phasing design, permitting and early construction activities.

Next steps noted at the meeting: staff will enter contract negotiations with the top‑ranked firm; the district will complete remaining geotechnical and traffic reports and pursue early foundation/site permits; and the board and designers will continue PACAC and tribal engagement and refine educational specifications and district standards prior to final design and construction documents.