The Washington School for the Deaf Divine Academic and Hunter Gymnasium delivered a transformative new facility, setting a national precedent for DeafSpace design. Rooted in a deeply collaborative process with students, staff and the Deaf community, the project prioritized accessibility, sensory engagement and cultural identity, creating a campus where students don’t just learn, but truly belong.
A Model of Inclusion, Sustainability and Belonging
Replacing outdated 1970s buildings, the design honored the school’s history by repurposing historic materials while introducing mass timber construction and biophilic elements that foster sensory awareness and well-being. Large windows, warm wood surfaces and spaces designed around Deaf experiences support communication and orientation. As one student said, “When school feels like an institution, I feel institutionalized,” underscoring the importance of designing a campus to feel like home.
This residential campus supports holistic learning with spaces such as a Life Skills Lab, ASL Lab, and a library that bridges heritage and culture through historic architecture. Early engagement with the Deaf community ensured the campus reflects their needs and aspirations, leading to immediate student enrollment growth.
The project was delivered on budget and on schedule, despite rising construction costs, by using innovative, cost-efficient strategies like a kit-of-parts mass timber approach and lifecycle cost analysis. The building achieved LEED Gold certification, featuring geothermal and photovoltaic systems, a 100% electric building with onsite renewable energy generation from geothermal and PV, and 100% onsite stormwater treatment, demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship.
The project exemplifies how inclusive, sustainable design can create environments that empower students and honor culture. It is a beacon for other schools for the Deaf nationwide, proving that design deeply rooted in community input can foster accessibility, pride and lasting impact.
Design-Build Team
| Client/Owner: | Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth, Washington School for the Deaf |
| Owner Advisor: | Department of Enterprise Services |
| Design-Builder: | Skanska Mithun |
| General Contractor: | Skanska USA Building |
| Architect: | Mithun |
| Engineer: | PCS Structural Solutions |
| Subcontractors: | TT&L Sheet Metal; JH Kelly Electrical; Kalesnikoff; Hansel Bauman; Robert T. Sirvage |
| Project Cost: | $43,500,000 |
| Construction Duration: | 14 Months |
Photos
Photo Credit: © Lara Swimmer-Esto