Panther Lake Elementary

SSF was hired for the Panther Lake project after the original structural engineer was let go. The design for this new 49,000-square-foot, one-story elementary school used wood-framed construction to keep costs down. Challenges faced on the project included keeping the interior space free of structural walls. SSF accomplished this using long-spanning open-web joists and glulam beams supported by steel pipe columns. The design also included large portions of a bi-level roof line with minimal structural elements that allowed natural light to enter the classrooms. SSF’s structural design for this project saved the school district over $1 million dollars in construction costs. Panther Lake received a Citation at the AIA Seattle’s 2012 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture.