SNOHOMISH — The design of two elementary schools has won national recognition.
Riverview and Machias elementary schools were finalists for the 2012 James D. MacConnell Award that was given by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International, an Arizona-based nonprofit that recognizes educational facilities by how they improve education.
It is the first time the Snohomish School District has won this honor, which was awarded in late September.
“The award is important because it not only recognizes the architecture, but recognizes the involvement of the community on this project,” district spokeswoman Kristin Foley said.
Both Riverview and Machias were built by a voter-approved $261 million bond passed in 2008. The new schools were opened in January 2011.
The bond also paid for the construction of Valley View Middle School, the Aquatic Center, and to remodel and expand Snohomish High School and Centennial Middle School.
Riverview and Machias were designed by Seattle-based NAC Architecture.
“The school district took a lot of care in creating a process that allowed creativity,” said Matt Rumbaugh, architect for NAC and lead designer for the Machias Elementary School project.
The schools were designed to give space for students to work in large and small numbers. They were also designed to be more energy efficient, Rumbaugh said.
The two schools were selected as finalists and each won an individual prize.
Marysville Getchell High School Campus and Lynnwood High School have won the James D. MacConnell Award in 2011 and 2010 respectively. Edmonds Woodway High School also won the award in 1999.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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