Lakeside School Shellhouse – Kenmore, WA

Located along the Sammamish River, in Kenmore, the Lakeside School Shellhouse was no longer large enough nor did it provide adequate functionality to the crew teams and camps that use the building. This water-based use is in a perfect location functionally, however current codes would not allow for an increase in the floor area of the structure. Our solution to over come the limiting Shoreline Codes was to maintain the existing footprints and to add a second floor. We researched the original 1980’ construction documents and methods and concluded that the foundation and floor slabs were substantially overbuilt for the single story structure and therefore we could work off of the existing building walls and pile and slab foundation to build the new upper floor.  A minimum number of new steel structural supports and driven piles were added to support specific loads. After site design studies and careful analysis of the parking area we were able to work within the existing gravel parking area to accommodate the current parking requirements. We worked with both a Wetlands Biologist and Landscape Architect to arrive at a greatly improved yard, parking and circulation area and landscaped planting beds. 

The result is a building nearly twice as large which provides dedicated training areas, coaches offices, locker rooms and shell storage. In addition we have incorporated a large deck area for outdoor training on the new upper floor. The new training room has extensive equipment and video feeds to accommodate review of team and individual crew rowing form. The exterior of the building has also been upgraded substantially with a cement based prefinished siding “Ceraclad” which will provide a long lasting, durable finish that is an aesthetically and maintenance improvement. The second story has increased the buildings visibility from the highly traveled public road, the addition has greatly enhances the look of the building from the former tin roof and metal sided single story structure.