Project Strategy

The city of Grandview is situated in the heart of Central Washington in the Yakima Valley, a small town equidistant from the larger cities of Yakima to the North and the Tri Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland to the south. Grandview's economy is based around agriculture, growing apples and corn to asparagus and wine grapes. The designers wanted to create a tranquil space for learning that added a calming effect to students lives by using warm and subtle colors. These were then offset by pops of color that were also beneficial in helping to create traffic patterns to improve flow. The "river" that runs from the main vestibule and into the Commons is a nod to the significance and importance that the Yakima River has played in the vibrance of the community and economy. This flows into and past a large sunburst in the Commons as well, amplifying the 300+ days of sunshine the Yakima Valley gets each year. All these elements, including the large custom inset of the "Grandview Greyhound" will give students now and generations in the future a place of learning, growth and community.