Board signs off on educational specifications for Everett High auditorium modernization

The Everett Public Schools Board of Directors approved educational specifications for a modernization of the Everett High School auditorium building by general consent at its Aug. 19 meeting, authorizing staff to continue design and permitting work.

Capital planning staff said the auditorium building was originally built in 1939 and last modernized in 1979; district maintenance has kept the building functional but mechanical and building systems are at or beyond useful life. The district procured Bassetti Architects (architect of record) to guide five workshops involving teachers, students, administrators and district staff to develop program requirements, adjacency diagrams and numeric programming.

Guiding principles identified by the committee include creating a clear and welcoming commons able to serve two lunch periods (roughly 450 students per period as a planning target), multifunctional spaces, improved wayfinding, modernized mechanical and life-safety systems, and passive supervision for safety. The auditorium itself received targeted mechanical and fire-safety upgrades in planning documents; staff said the auditorium core is in comparatively good condition following prior updates, while surrounding spaces need substantial modernization.

Presenters said design work is underway, with permit submission targeted for mid-2026, bidding in late 2026 and a planned construction window in 2027 with occupancy in 2028. Staff noted temporary servery and dining arrangements will be required during construction and pointed to prior examples (such as setting up a servery in a gym) as possible approaches.

The board approved the educational specifications by general consent, enabling architects and district staff to proceed with schematic design, constructability reviews, value engineering and the preparation of contract documents for bidding.