Integris Architects presented a phased design and renovation plan for Port Angeles High School, focusing on an accessible, community-oriented campus and a historic-auditorium rehabilitation that the firm said would prioritize student learning and long-term operational savings.

The Port Angeles School District heard the firm’s presentation during a meeting where the district’s selection process for an architect-construction manager was under way. Integris project manager Sam Schafer, Integris project architect Lindsay Crawford and project designer Eric Peterson described a two- to three-phase approach that would keep parts of the school occupied while work proceeds and would aim to control costs through early contractor involvement.

The firm said the auditorium is a community asset that requires early investigations and structural testing. Eric Peterson, project designer, said the project team has done an initial building survey and “sat down with Rob Draper, our structural engineer in house, and we looked at what would we need to do, for this theater building, what were the first steps that we need to take structured and to understand, how the building was built.” Integris emphasized non-invasive strategies where possible and said it would use modern surveying tools — including Matterport 3-D models — to document existing conditions.

Integris framed construction management under a GCCM (general-contractor/construction-manager) procurement as a schedule and budget risk reducer. The firm said early GC involvement would permit early bid packages, compress permitting impacts and provide options for phasing that reduce disruption to students. Sam Schafer, project manager, summarized the procurement approach as one that helps “control the budget” by setting target values for major systems and adjusting choices when estimates exceed targets.

Accessibility, acoustics and programmatic upgrades in the auditorium were prominent topics. The firm said existing accessible seating is concentrated at the front and recommended redistributing accessible seats and adding cross aisles to improve circulation and sightlines. Integris presenters also proposed adding backstage support spaces, green rooms and improved teaching/tech spaces so classes can use the theater during daytime hours.

Design priorities described by Integris included daylighting, durable coastal materials and continuity of systems between buildings to reduce the district’s maintenance burden. Lindsay Crawford, project architect, said daylight is “super critical” for mood and learning. The team also recounted lessons from Stevens Middle School, which Integris completed for the district, and offered a process for education specifications (Ed Specs) that centers students, staff and community input.

During public comment and the question-and-answer period, community members raised immediate concerns about access and bathrooms in the current campus. One resident asked directly about the cost and said, “This $50,000,000 is just so scary to me.” Integris responded that the team would study circulation, develop multiple restroom pods rather than a few large restrooms, and prioritize on-site accessible routes and clear front-door identification.

Integris also described sustainable strategies and life-cycle cost analysis used on prior projects to justify higher first costs for long-term operating savings. The presenters said they would coordinate early with the city’s permitting staff and with Banner (contractor) and local trade groups to seek local subcontractor participation on bid packages.

The meeting closed without a formal selection decision. District staff told the board the next steps were to rank the firms and, once a selecting majority is reached, to begin contract negotiations.

Integris’ presentation combined detailed technical notes on phasing and structure with community-focused engagement proposals; the firm repeatedly referenced the Stevens Middle School engagement as a process model it plans to reuse for the high school project.