Wilson High School - Nova Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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After two previous attempts to get approval from the citizens of Tacoma, the school district received the green light in 1954 to begin construction of Woodrow Wilson High School, the first new Tacoma high school in forty-four years. Shortly after the bonds were approved, Lea, Pearson, and Richards began plans for the building. Actual construction was done by Nelson Construction Company and Bergh-Griggs Com- pany. Electrical and mechanical details were finished by Western Electrical Company. Educators, architects and engineers have described this campus-style high school as a completely first-class structure -technically and functionally. The school is built around a large central plaza paved with concrete and landscaped with native shrubs. One section of this area is raised and can serve as an outdoor stage for assemblies, band concerts, and other open-air events. An outstanding feature of the construction is the extensive use of precast concrete roof slabs and prestressed concrete beams. Six thousand channel-shaped roof slabs were cast on the building site at the rate of fifty-seven slabs per day. Most of the beams were also cast on the site with the excep- tion of those spanning the swimming pool and the gym. Another outstanding feature is the gym floor, laid without the use of nails. The maple strips are fastened with metal splints and laid on a Portuguese cork sheet which keeps ground moisture from the wood. To supplement the twelve buildings now completed, an auditorium and another classroom wing have been designed. These will be completed.when money is appropriated. ., E W' ill ' ti -fl i f ig llllllllllllllll