Construction is underway on a new Renton High School in Washington that will replace much of the district’s existing campus while allowing school operations to continue during the project.
The three-story, 350,000-square-foot facility is being developed on an expanded 33.3-acre site currently occupied by Renton High School. Once complete, the new campus is planned to serve approximately 1,600 students and is expected to open in fall 2029.
The replacement school will provide classrooms and specialized learning environments for career and technical education, science, art and elective programs.
The campus will also include health services areas, community spaces, a library, cafeteria, commons, gymnasiums and facilities for special services.
Outdoor improvements will add a lighted baseball and softball field along with a practice football and soccer field.
The project is intended to modernize facilities at the district’s oldest high school. Renton High School’s original building opened in 1911, while the current main school building dates to 1932. The campus has undergone multiple expansions and renovations over the decades.
The original 1930s portion of the school will remain in place, along with the IKEA Performing Arts Center.
A key construction challenge will be coordinating multiple phases around ongoing school operations.
Most of the existing high school is scheduled for demolition later in the project, allowing the new facility to progress while portions of the current campus remain occupied.
The project is being delivered as part of the Renton School District’s broader capital improvement program. Voters approved a $676 million school construction and improvement bond in November 2022 to fund modernization and upgrade projects throughout the district, including the Renton High School replacement.
Skanska is leading construction with a project team that includes BRIC Architecture, PCS Structural Solutions, AHBL Civil/Landscape, Metrix | CMTA for mechanical engineering and GFT Electrical.
The development will create a modern educational campus while addressing the logistical requirements of construction next to an active school.
The Renton High School project demonstrates the complexity of replacing aging educational facilities while maintaining daily school operations. Its phased construction approach, specialized learning spaces and expanded athletic facilities reflect the growing scope of school modernization projects as districts invest in long-term campus infrastructure.
Source: Skanska.
