The New Moses Lake Sage Point Elementary School is slated to be constructed on an 11.39-acre site bordered on the west by West Lakeshore Drive and on the east by West Peninsula Drive—with Interstate 90 some distance to the north. The abutting properties to the north and south are zoned for single family residences. The gross building area is 46,851 square feet. It includes 17 mainstream classrooms, a Title 1 classroom, a Resource classroom and DLC self-contained suite for special education, a host of special services spaces, a computer lab, a music room which will double as a stage, a sizable gymnasium sufficient for community use, a Library, a multi-purpose/cafeteria space, and various support facilities.The building design theme is derived from one of the regions geologic treasures that occur generally south of the lake – the Moses Lake Sand Dunes. There are two striking personalities to the dunes. There are the traditional rolling wind-blown sand dunes and there are dunes that have been overgrown with vegetation. The dunes are geologically vital to the existence of the lake in that they form a damn to contain it. Likewise, the lake is geologically vital to the existence of the dunes in that the lake sustains the vegetation that holds the sand in place. Because of the dunes’ rich character and their broad importance to the Moses Lake community NAC|Architecture chose to draw inspiration from them. The functional building program is divided into traditional classroom style teaching spaces that are symbolized by the colorful vegetated dunes, punctuated by cool greens, blues and spots of warm flowers; and all other spaces (administration, library, gymnasium, music, multi-purpose, kitchen, restrooms, etc.) borrow imagery from the more earthy warm undulating sandy dunes. The colors and textures of the dunes influence the selection of finishes, and are artistically interpreted into the physical forms of the interior and exterior architecture as well as into site features such as paving patterns and undulating concrete benches. These vibrant images will help to develop and define a sense of community around this exciting new school. Landscaping is sensitive to the local climate by utilization of native species of grasses and punctuated by locally indigenous sage…the latter tying the site to the Sage Point building name.An additional significant factor in the design is the State mandate to utilize the Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol (WSSP). This affects many aspects of the project: utilization of sensitive site organization and development, including parking; access to and facilitation of public and bicycle transportation; stormwater management; landscaping; water usage; construction waste management and long term recycling support; use of recycled materials; energy efficient equipment and management systems; startup commissioning; daylighting strategies; automated electric lighting controls; natural ventilation; low or non-emitting interior materials; acoustic performance; and lifecycle commitments to sustainable maintenance practices.
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