FORMA

Southworth Elementary & Yelm Middle Schools

FORMA recently completed the staggered construction of two replacement campuses for Yelm Community Schools under a bundled GC/CM collaboration–two sites with two unique schools but purposefully similar construction types to allow for continuity of the design and documentation process.

During Preconstruction our team developed a phasing schedule that allowed Southworth students to co-locate at Yelm MS while their campus was under construction. Both schools were planned and designed simultaneously while being permitted through two different jurisdictions–City of Yelm and Thurston County. 

During construction of the second school, Southworth Elementary, we were able to incorporate very specific lessons learned form our work on Yelm Middle School into our construction docs–directly improving the quality and accuracy of the design.

Additionally, our team utilized the same civil subcontractor on both sites–supporting cut/fill material management in the earthwork scope which added efficiency to the process and lowered costs for the District.

Design and construction of the schools involved collaboration with the Nisqually Tribe to honor the rich history and natural features of the surrounding indigenous territory–shaping the design of the schools and celebrated in the experiential graphics and native Lushootseed translations featured throughout both campuses.