Cascade Middle School Tour

Mark Young, AIA, LEED AP BD+C leading the AIA Eugene tour of the new Cascade Middle School, August 29, 2024 (all photos by me).

The Eugene Section of AIA Oregon hosted a tour last week of the newly completed Cascade Middle School. Designed by a team led by Rowell Brokaw Architects (RBA) and built by Todd Construction, the project replaces one of the Bethel School District’s oldest buildings. Bethel voters passed a $99 million bond measure in 2020 to fund the project, part of a broader effort to upgrade facilities throughout the district. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the new school, which stands as a showcase for RBA’s characteristically thoughtful and pragmatic approach to K-12 school design. 

Main entry.

Our tour guide was RBA senior principal Mark Young, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Mark provided a thorough description of the project, from its initial programming through design and construction, while sharing insights and anecdotes illuminating the vicissitudes inherent in such a complex undertaking. He characterized the school as a “best practices project,” while emphasizing how RBA viewed every design decision through the lens of being good stewards of the voter-approved funds. The direct construction cost for the new building and site improvements totaled approximately $44 million.

Site Plan.

The new school makes a strong first impression. Its exterior materials are both handsome and crisply detailed, and the massing is modest enough to fit comfortably with the scale of nearby single-family homes. The decision to locate the building at the southeast corner of the site allowed the existing school to remain operational during construction, ensuring a smooth transition for students and staff. The old building has since been demolished to make way for an expansive green space that preserves several mature trees. 

Exterior view of the classroom wing that faces Wilhi Street.

The Commons. Note the mural by Patrick "Teak" Price.

The overall parti of the new building is refreshingly straightforward. The central Commons area is a double-height, daylit space that serves as the school’s multifunctional hub. It connects the main components of the building: the two-story classroom wing to the south, the music wing to the north, and the gyms and administrative areas to the west. Two exterior plazas flank the Commons, offering a welcoming environment at the building’s main entry on its west side and access to a covered outdoor area through a large garage door to its east. 

The new building houses 90,000 square feet of enclosed space, plus 3,000 square feet of useable covered outdoor space. In addition to a standard complement of classrooms, CTE (Career Technical Education) spaces, a media center, and music rooms, the design includes a community health clinic in the renovated former music building. This adaptive reuse minimized costs and waste while providing a valuable resource for the neighborhood. 

Shared learning area.

Sustainability was a key priority. The building easily meets energy code requirements, in part as confirmed by a blower door test that showed air leakage well below code standards. A photovoltaic array on the gymnasium roof fulfills the state’s green energy technology requirements, further enhancing energy efficiency. Although the window-to-wall ratio is relatively low at 13.5%, the design ensures that all classrooms receive natural light and have views to the outside. Skylights in shared learning areas help break up long hallways, providing dynamic spaces for circulation and informal learning. I certainly did not find the amount of light and views lacking, a testament to RBA’s skill with design for daylighting. 

Media Center.

Typical classroom.

Music room.

Art plays a notable role in the new school in the form of murals by Patrick “Teak” Price, a Tlingit artist from Alaska. His work, which depicts local flora and fauna and Native American cultural elements, connects the school to its place in the community and provides both aesthetic value and educational opportunities. 

A separate entrance to the gyms allows for secure after-hours access, accommodating community sports and activities without compromising the rest of the school’s security. 

One of the two gymnasiums.

The tour highlighted RBA’s approach to creating a functional, community-oriented school that fits well within its environment. The design is not about pushing architectural boundaries but rather about delivering a practical and effective solution that meets the needs of students, staff, and the broader Bethel community. Decisions such as the integration of natural light, efficient circulation, and flexible use of spaces, reflect careful consideration of how the school will operate daily. 

I appreciated seeing how RBA balanced modern educational design with practical and sustainable choices that align with the project’s goals and constraints. It will be interesting to see how the building performs over time and how it continues to serve evolving educational needs. 

Kudos to the entire Cascade Middle School team for their work on this project, and big thanks to Mark for leading such an insightful tour.