Hilltop Heritage Elementary School

Hilltop Heritage Elementary School was built to accommodate the growth and over-enrollment within the Renton School District. The new 85,000 SF school highlights sustainability by incorporating a mass timber structure that creates a warm and inviting space for the students and staff. Hilltop Heritage is the first elementary school in the Puget Sound region to use mass timber or cross laminated timber for its structure. Serving up to 650 students with 30 classrooms, the building also features outdoor playfields and playground equipment, covered play areas, as well as outdoor learning spaces. The project site had multiple wetland complexes that required wetland buffer averaging, mitigation and enhancement.

The school's structural system features cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and dowel-laminated timber (DLT), supported by glulam beams and columns, creating a warm and inviting environment for students and staff. The design prioritizes the exposure of mass timber as a final architectural feature while strategically concealing mechanical and electrical systems to maintain a clean aesthetic. This approach not only highlights the innate beauty of wood but uses it to connect students more closely with nature, enhancing the educational atmosphere.