Beaverton, September 6, 2025
News Summary
A long-used Beaverton public high school will be replaced by a new three-story, 300,500-square-foot facility designed for 1,500 students. The project is funded by a local bond and carries total project costs around $253 million, with construction hard costs near $221 million. The campus emphasizes resilience with higher-than-required seismic standards and visible seismic joints, and adds modern learning and CTE spaces, a black box theatre with cedar cladding, pottery and yoga studios, expanded athletic facilities, an indoor running track, and an on-site student health clinic. The old building will be demolished and the site converted to parking.
Beaverton to Replace 100‑Year‑Old High School with New Three‑Story, 300,500‑sf Facility — Opening Fall 2026
The Beaverton school district is building a new high school to replace a nearly century‑old building. The project will deliver a three‑story, 300,500‑square‑foot facility designed for resilience, sustainability and modern learning. The new campus is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.
Top line: cost, size and schedule
The total project cost, including design, permitting and project management, is roughly $253 million. Construction hard costs are about $221 million. The work is funded from a voter‑approved bond program and is part of a larger capital plan approved in 2022. The new school is sized for about 1,500 students.
Why replace the old building now?
The current high school is about 100 years old and is the oldest public high school still in use in the state. The district assessed long‑term needs for safety, seismic performance, accessibility and modern instructional spaces and decided a full replacement best meets those needs. The existing building will be demolished once the new campus is ready and that site will be converted into parking.
Design and contractors
Project teams include a local architecture firm serving as architect of record, a design firm specializing in campus and landscape work, a national general contractor, and a structural engineer. The project team is positioning the campus as a potential model for K‑12 design that balances safety, energy and resource efficiency, student experience, and cost‑effective construction.
Safety and seismic performance
The new building is being built to a higher‑than‑required seismic standard. Designers incorporated integrated seismic joints that allow discrete building segments to move independently in a quake, improving overall structural performance. The joints are planned to be visible and accessible so they can be inspected and covered as needed, simplifying maintenance and post‑event checks.
Learning spaces and amenities
The design emphasizes flexible, future‑ready classrooms and career pathways. Key features include:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms with built‑in infrastructure for hands‑on career training;
- a black box theatre finished with acoustic cedar cladding;
- a gym optimized for natural light with a second‑level track and an indoor running track that circles the upper level;
- an enclosed student courtyard and a student health clinic to support wellness;
- upgraded athletic facilities, including recently installed turf on the football field and new tennis courts.
Security and circulation
Safety is central to the site plan. The school will have a single controlled public entry, strategic access restrictions within the campus, and no direct access to the adjacent busy thoroughfare to ensure student safety from traffic. Plans also convert the old site into parking to support drop‑off and pick‑up operations.
Costs and funding context
The work is funded as part of a larger bond measure passed in 2022. The total bond package provided funds for this and other district projects. The new high school hard construction cost sits at about $221 million, with the full project budget reaching about $253 million once professional services and project management are included.
Community and enrollment context
The district is proceeding with the build at a time of modest demographic change. Local population estimates show a small decline over recent years, and district enrollment has seen declines since 2019. The new school is sized to serve current and near‑term needs while aiming to be flexible for changing enrollment patterns.
Project timeline and next steps
Construction is underway with substantial completion planned in time for the fall 2026 school start. After the new building opens, the existing century‑old high school will be demolished and its site converted to parking and support functions for the new campus. The district and contractor teams will continue permitting, coordinated outreach, and sequencing to limit disruption during construction.
Why this matters
The project reflects a broader trend in public school construction: replacing aging facilities with buildings that meet stricter safety standards, support hands‑on career education, provide flexible spaces for modern instruction, and aim for lower long‑term operating costs through sustainable design. By building to higher seismic standards and including resilient systems, the district is prioritizing student safety and continuity of operations after natural disasters.
FAQ
What is the size and capacity of the new high school?
The new building is 300,500 square feet and is designed to serve about 1,500 students.
When will the new school open?
The target opening is the fall of 2026.
How much will the project cost?
The construction hard cost is about $221 million. The total project cost, including design and management, is about $253 million.
Will the old school be demolished?
Yes. The existing building will be razed after the new campus opens and the former site will be converted to parking.
What safety features are included?
Designs include higher seismic standards, integrated seismic joints for structural independence, a single controlled public entry, and site access restrictions to prevent direct access to the adjacent busy road.
What special learning spaces will the school have?
Highlights include CTE labs, a black box theatre with acoustic cedar cladding, a pottery room, a yoga studio, breakout study zones, an enclosed courtyard, and upgraded athletic fields and courts.
How is the project funded?
Funding comes from a bond measure approved by voters in 2022 and is part of a larger district capital program.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 300,500 square feet |
| Stories | Three |
| Capacity | Approximately 1,500 students |
| Total Project Cost | $253 million (includes design, permitting, project management) |
| Construction Hard Cost | $221 million |
| Opening | Fall 2026 |
| Seismic Design | Built to higher‑than‑required standard; integrated seismic joints |
| Learning Features | CTE labs, black box theatre, pottery room, yoga studio, breakout zones |
| Athletics | New turf field, new tennis courts, indoor running track, second‑level track |
| Security | Single controlled entry, strategic access restrictions, no direct access to busy road |
| Site Change | Existing school to be demolished; site converted to parking |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- OregonLive: Beaverton school board — where the candidates stand
- Wikipedia: Beaverton School District
- Willamette Week: What each school board member is willing to cut from modernization projects
- Google Search: Beaverton high school replacement 2026
- KPTV: Beaverton Education Association holds rally
- Google Scholar: K12 seismic design resilience
- KGW: Local education stories — Beaverton student finalist
- Encyclopedia Britannica: public high school design
- Oregon Business: 2024 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon
- Google News: Beaverton school bond 2022
Author: Construction CA News
CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER The CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructioncanews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in California and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Rose Parade, Coachella, Comic-Con, and the California State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the California Building Industry Association and Associated General Contractors of California, plus leading businesses in technology and entertainment that power the local economy such as Apple and Alphabet. As part of the broader network, including constructionnynews.com, constructiontxnews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape across multiple states.
