In honor of National Historic Preservation Month, Tacoma Public Schools is celebrating the modernization of Oakland school, a project that thoughtfully blends the school’s historic character with modern educational needs. Originally built in 1912 and listed on the City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Register, Oakland is undergoing a significant transformation funded by the $535 million school construction bond approved by voters in 2020.  

Key preservation efforts have focused on restoring the building’s original brick, sandstone, and marble exterior, as well as its historic wood-framed windows. The restoration process involved carefully removing the windows, treating them for hazardous materials, refinishing them off-site, and then reinstalling them to their original locations. One of the major challenges was matching the century-old masonry materials and coordinating the complex logistics of window restoration. Additionally, an existing chimney, deemed structurally unsound and no longer in use, was removed with approval from the historic preservation committee.

“Tacoma Public Schools is a major owner and steward of some of Tacoma’s most beloved historic properties,” said Reuben McKnight, Historic Preservation Officer with the City of Tacoma Planning & Development Services. “The district is a committed and valuable partner in preserving Tacoma’s built environment, as has been demonstrated with the award-winning historic renovations and modernizations of Stadium and Lincoln high schools, Hilltop Heritage and Stewart middle schools, Edna Travis, Fern Hill, Washington and Hoyt elementary schools, and most recently, Oakland school.”

“Preserving Oakland’s historic elements while upgrading it to meet current educational standards has been a complex but rewarding endeavor,” said Morris Aldridge, Executive Director of Planning and Construction for Tacoma Public Schools. “This project exemplifies our commitment to honoring the past while building for the future.”

The total cost of the Oakland modernization is approximately $46.7 million, with around $1.5 million dedicated specifically to historic preservation efforts. Additional costs associated with maintaining the building’s historic character, such as seismic reinforcement, bring the total investment in preserving the school’s heritage to an estimated $8–10 million.

Construction is currently underway, with the newly renovated Oakland school expected to reopen in September 2025.