DPD approves Horace Mann renovation + two-story addition

Image from a Landmark Nomination document

Image from a Landmark Nomination document

The Horace Mann building is on track for a major renovation and addition. The Department of Planning and Development approved Seattle Public Schools’ plan, which will get the building ready for the return of the NOVA alternative high school.

NOVA has been housed in the old Meany building near Miller Park since 2009. But with voter approval of the BEX IV schools levy in February, the District now hopes to reopen Meany as a middle school and get Horace Mann back in shape.

Meanwhile, a group led in part by Wyking Garrett of Umojafest PEACE Center have been pushing for more community space and programming in the Horace Mann building. From the More 4 Mann campaign:

Our vision is for Horace Mann to be a hub of dynamic programming and activities, focused on positive education, culture, youth and community economic development outcomes that honors our heritage in the Central District. Consistent with the vision of what every school should be, we want Horace Mann to become a place where our children’s education, dreams and community intersect.

Details on the project, from the Determination of Non-Significance document:

The building was originally constructed as the Walla Walla School in 1902 and renamed the Horace Mann School in 1921. The school was an elementary school until 1968, when it was closed. The building was used as an annex for Garfield High School for several years and also housed an alternative program called the Extended Services Program. The NOVA Alternative High School was housed in the Horace Mann School from 1975 to 2009, when it moved to its current location at the Meany School site. The Horace Mann School site is currently leased to Peoples Family Life and houses the Work-It-Out Pilot Project. The Seattle Amistad School, a private elementary school, subleases portions of the building from Peoples Family Life.

The existing building is largely unchanged from the original 1902 construction. Alterations have mainly consisted of repairs and interior upgrades for safety and educational purposes. Most of the finishes on the interior of the first and second floors are largely original, although the original lighting has been replaced.

Here’s what the changes will include:

The new two-story addition would include:

  • Four general classrooms, a science classroom with a prep room, and an art classroom with a darkroom.
  • New restrooms on the basement, first and second floors.
  • A new exit stairway on the north end.
  • Either a small addition at the basement level to house the elevator, restrooms, and a corridor connecting to the existing basement level or under an alternative bid, an unfinished basement to house four future classrooms.

The existing Horace Mann building would be remodeled to include:

  • Reconfiguration of the main office on the first floor.
  • A remodeled principal’s office and administrator’s office on the second floor.
  • Updated classrooms, including white boards and projection systems.
  • New science and dance classrooms on the basement level.
  • A new kitchenette and a room with rough-ins for future development of a kitchen at the basement level.

Other features include:

  • A new parking area created by restriping existing asphalt and installing a new curb cut from East Columbia Street for access.
  • Two new light poles for the upgraded parking lot.
  • Upgrades to the existing mechanical systems, including new high efficiency condensing boilers, pumps, and improved zone control.
  • Installation of a rain garden on the northwest corner of the property to capture roof runoff prior to discharge to the existing stormwater system.
  • Replacement of the existing on-site combine sewer/stormwater system on the west side of the site with a new connection to the existing combined stormwater system in East Cherry Street.
  • Repair and/or replacement of sidewalk sections, including regrading where necessary to meet ADA requirements.
  • Removal of the two portables from the school site under a separate project.

Here’s the full document:

Attachment Project 3014092 Id 52023014092

13 thoughts on “DPD approves Horace Mann renovation + two-story addition

  1. I’m sympathetic to the More 4 Mann campaign, but we’re not talking about putting condos here. NOVA High School could also be said to be a “place where our children’s education, dreams and community intersect.” It was part of this community for over 30 years at this location. The programs offered by this alternative high school are diverse and available to all students in the CD and beyond if they choose to attend.

  2. NOVA is an outstanding high school and deserves their school upgraded as any other high school program in the district has had. Same goes for Meany. It’s obscene that in such an affluent neighborhood that Meany was as neglected as it was. If there’s money enough to give MLK to the LOWEST bidder, then there’s damn well money enough to fully restore and upgrade both these schools!

  3. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISCRIMINATES / OPPRESSES AFRICAN CULTURE. IT IS A EURO-CENTRIC COLONIAL TRAINING AND INDOCTRINATION INSTITUTION THAT TEACHES NATIVE AMERICAN “INDIANS” THAT “CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA” ? WHAT DID THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO SEE EUROPE ALSO ” DISCOVER” EUROPE?

    ALSO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACH GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON ETC (EUROPEAN SETTLER COLONIAL “JUDEO-CHISTIAN-MASONIC” TERRORIST THAT TERRORIZE THEIR BLACK CONCENTRATION CAMP VICTIMS, WERE GREAT MEN AND CHAMPIONS OF “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” TEACHING THIS OBVIOUS LIE TO THEIR “BLACK” STUDENT VICTIMS IS ABSURD ? NO WONDER THERE IS SUCH A “BLACK ACHIEVEMENT GAP”. WAS HITLER A GREAT MAN ALSO FOR COPYING AMERICAN CONCENTRATION CAMP ENSLAVEMENT AND VICTIMIZING “MINORITIES” AND SOCIALIST / COMMUNISTS IN NAZI GERMANY?

    HORACE MANN WILL BE THE NEW HOME OF AFRICATOWN CULTURAL / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE “AFRICAN AMERICAN ACADEMY” . JUST STAY TUNED!!! THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES INSPITE OF “BIG WHITE LIES”!!!! Omari Tahir, FOUNDER. VICE-PRESIDENT AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND CULTURE CENTER AT THE FORMER COLMAN COLMAN SCHOOL SITE CURRENTLY UNDER ILLEGAL OCCUPATION BY THE EUROPEAN COLONIAL SETTLER “HOUSING RESOURCE GROUP”.

  4. There is a typo in the headline: “rennovation” should be “renovation.”

  5. Don’t get so upset about all this Omari, you will be leaving the country anyway as soon as you get your money, so be happy.

  6. This is great news! I remember writing a story about NOVA’s move a few years back and the students I spoke to were so disappointed with their school at Meany and longed to get back into this building. I am so relieved that SPS is making this investment in such a special and important school! And Meany too, from what I understand. It’s about time.

    • …and by SPS, I really me us, the taxpayers and the community who voted for the levy. Yay, us!

  7. Here’s what the DJC had on their front page today:

    June 12, 2013

    Horace Mann School gets rehab and a new wing to house Nova
    By JOURNAL STAFF

    Renovation of the historic Horace Mann School at 2410 E. Cherry St. in Seattle and construction of a new wing, shown here on the left, is slated to start in August.

    Seattle Public Schools is seeking bids from contractors until July 16 for the project. A pre-bid meeting is set for 10 a.m. June 18 at the school. A notice appeared June 7 in the DJC.

    After the work is done the building will house Nova High School, an alternative program.

    Construction is estimated to cost about $8.5 million, according to Paul Wight, capital project manager with the district.

    The school was built in 1907 and is a city landmark. The wing will add 15,000 square feet to the 33,000-square-foot building, and house six to 10 classrooms.

    Wight said the facade and interior will get upgrades, and technology and life safety elements will be modernized.

    The architect is TCF Architecture. Hargis Engineers is mechanical and electrical engineer, and PCS Structural Solutions is structural engineer.

    The school has been leased to private parties for the last few years, Wight said.

  8. The school district is busting at the seams and needs all of its properties. Nova should be able to move back to Horace Mann to free up Meany to be a much needed middle school again. Also, while it looks like there are many great programs now occurring at Horace Mann, there is a community center on the same block as Horace Mann. The city should work with the community to provide more space for the programs the community wants. Secondly, there is no reason why they school district can’t work with the community to provide space after school hours. Lots of other schools are open to public to activities after school is over. It just takes planning and coordination with the school schedule.

  9. Pingback: Schools says with community issues sorted out, $14.2M plan moving forward to re-open Hill middle school | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle

  10. Pingback: Schools says with community issues sorted out, $14.2M plan moving forward to re-open Hill middle school | theCiv