Evergreen High School, mass timber

Evergreen High School was an important replacement high school for the Highline School District and the White Center community. The project design sought to achieve the district’s sustainability goals to not only reduce the carbon footprint of the building’s construction process but also its long-term operation. The new building offers a modern, innovative design that showcases mass timber elements throughout its two interconnected buildings – the academic wing and the larger multi-purpose building.

The academic wing is a three-story classroom building constructed of mass timber columns, beams and engineered wood panels. These elements not only enhance the building’s structural integrity, but offers a warm, inviting interior environment. The open structure of the mass timber system allows for expansive windows in every classroom, channeling abundant daylight and highlighting the natural warmth of the wood finishes. This design choice offers a more conducive learning environment and aligns with the school's motto, "Dig Deep, Rise Up, Branch Out," reflecting a connection to the natural environment.

Mass Timber Stats:  

3-Ply CLT floors, roof  |  CLT panel area: 111,765 SF  |  Total wood fiber: 52,327 CF

Project Highlights:

• Cornerstone’s first project using 3-ply CLT floors, reducing material volume compared to traditional 5- and 7-ply systems
• Coordinated parallel erection of timber and steel structures, compressing the overall schedule
• Provided comparative system studies to balance acoustics, fire and budget requirements
• One of Washington’s largest high school mass timber structures to date