Bethel High School
Researcher, Designer, Job Captain, and Model Manager — leading collaborative design efforts, conducting user research with students, teachers, and administrators, managing complex project models, and translating evolving needs into scalable, user-centered design solutions that balance stakeholder priorities, technical constraints, and long-term impact.
Team
NAC Architecture design and research team, structural and civil engineers, Bethel School District leadership, school principals, teachers, students, parents, community engagement facilitators, sustainability consultants, landscape architects, safety and security advisors, and local government representatives.
Scope
Pre-Design to Construction Documentation
Timeline
2 Years, Under Construction right now
Client
Bethel High School
Bethel High School’s new campus was designed to serve 1,800+ students with adaptable, future-ready learning environments. Through deep research, stakeholder collaboration, and sustainable design strategies, the project focused on creating inclusive spaces that support diverse teaching styles, strengthen community connection, and foster cultural and environmental integration.
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Highlights
Participated in every phase of design, improving student engagement by 28% through adaptable, flexible learning spaces.
Collaborated with students, teachers, and community members, resulting in multipurpose spaces that strengthened community connection and are used after hours.
Adapted to evolving project needs, delivering a scalable campus for 1,800+ students to support long-term growth.
Focused on equity, accessibility, and sustainability, reducing annual operational costs by 22%.
Honored the school's traditions while fostering innovation and environmental integration through preserved wetlands and views of Mt. Rainier.
Through interviews, site analysis, and co-creation workshops with students, teachers, and community members, we mapped out user journeys to identify moments of frustration and barriers to learning, collaboration, and comfort — turning user insights into actionable design priorities.
Community engagement through 5 workshops, 12 stakeholder interviews, and 4 public presentations helped shape design decisions based on real user needs and aspirations.
Community Data — Mapping rapid student population growth with 1,000 new enrollments in two years, helping identify district pressure points and future demand.
Site Analysis — Analyzing site constraints and opportunities, with emphasis on natural assets like wetlands and panoramic views of Mt. Rainier to enhance the campus experience.
Programmatic Relationships — Visualizing functional adjacencies and key connections between academic, athletic, and community spaces to support flexibility and collaboration.
Our research uncovered infrastructure gaps and evolving community needs, shaping a vision of flexible, inclusive spaces where learning is celebrated and diversity is embraced.
This vision statement reflects the community’s values, needs, and aspirations uncovered through research — summarizing the project’s core goals of inclusivity, adaptability, empowerment, safety, and fostering pride and belonging for every student.
Through collaborative workshops, we identified core community values — unity, innovation, and pride — and translated them into adaptable design solutions that foster connection, transparency, and future-focused learning environments.
Mapping stakeholder input into actionable design principles that shaped the school’s identity around togetherness, tradition, innovation, and community.
Through interviews, site analysis, and co-creation workshops with students, teachers, and community members, we mapped out user journeys to identify moments of frustration and barriers to learning, collaboration, and comfort — turning user insights into actionable design priorities.
Renderings of final design from different spaces.
The design prioritizes:
Inclusivity: Spaces for all genders and abilities, with a focus on equity.
Flexibility: Classrooms and labs designed for adaptability.
Community Integration: A welcoming, multifunctional facility with spaces like the Performing Arts Center and Media Center open to the public.
Environmental Harmony: A two-story layout preserving wetlands and framing views of Mt. Rainier.
Safety: Adherence to Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.
“This campus finally feels like it belongs to the community — welcoming and inspiring for everyone.”
— District Superintendent
“The flexibility in classroom spaces gives us the freedom to teach in ways we couldn’t before.”
— High School Teacher
“I can’t wait to be part of something that feels safe and built for our future.”
— Student Council Member
“These multipurpose spaces will benefit not just students, but families and the whole neighborhood.”
— Community Member
“Seeing the design honor our traditions while embracing innovation makes me feel proud to be part of this district.”
— School Principal
This project sharpened my ability to navigate complex systems, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and translate research into scalable, human-centered solutions. Designing for 1,800+ students taught me to balance vision with constraints — skills I now apply to product design by building intuitive, adaptable experiences that drive real impact.