Van Asselt School, mass timber

Perched atop Beacon Hill, The Van Asselt School experienced a remarkable transformation — one that bridges the past with the future through the innovative use of mass timber. Designed by Bassetti Architects, this project seamlessly integrates a new classroom wing and gymnasium with the renovation of a historic 1909 schoolhouse. The facility serves as a swing school for Seattle Public Schools, accommodating students from across the district while their home schools are rebuilt. The project is one of the first schools in Seattle to utilize mass timber building elements such as cross-laminated timber (CLT).

Van Asselt’s expansion is built for flexibility, sustainability and longevity. At the heart of the project is the new classroom wing, a showcase of modern mass timber construction. Exposed glulam beams and CLT decking create a warm and inviting learning environment while enhancing air quality and acoustics throughout. To maintain clean and seamless structural connections, the project utilizes concealed ‘Ricon’ fasteners, while tight-fit pins secure the base of the glulam columns, ensuring both durability and aesthetic appeal. Beyond the classroom wing, the expansion includes a new gymnasium, constructed with a steel frame to support its large-span structure, and extensive renovations to the 1950s-era portion of the campus.

Mass Timber Stats:

3-ply CLT roof, 5-ply CLT floors | CLT panel area: 41,363 SF | Total wood fiber: 24,365 CF

Project Highlights:

• Cornerstone’s first K-12 mass timber project
• Seattle Public Schools' first mass timber project
• Developed innovative connector details to improve constructability and reduce field labor
• Applied pre-applied membranes and protective detailing for CLT roof and floor panels to withstand wet-season erection
• Established early sequencing and protection strategies now used on other Seattle Public Schools projects