A Community Hub For All Ages

Neighborhood House High Point Center | Seattle, WA

Located in Seattle’s High Point neighborhood, this 20,000-square-foot center brings together education, family support, youth development, community services, and neighborhood gathering spaces under one roof.

Environmental Works worked closely with Neighborhood House, Seattle Housing Authority, staff, service providers, and community stakeholders to develop the building’s program and establish shared priorities for its design and budget. The resulting center includes early learning classrooms, flexible teaching and activity spaces, a dedicated teen center, tutoring areas, a family resource center, counseling and administrative offices, a computer lab, and meeting rooms available to neighborhood groups and community partners.

Today, the building supports Head Start and Early Head Start programs for toddlers and preschoolers; after-school and summer learning for middle and high school students; tutoring, mentorship, STEM activities, and teen programming; family-focused classes and events; multilingual support groups; community resource navigation; computer and printing access; and cultural and neighborhood gatherings. Offices and shared spaces also allow Neighborhood House, Seattle Housing Authority, resident associations, and partner organizations to provide services directly within the High Point community.

Sustainability was integrated throughout the building and site design. Exterior sunshades reduce solar heat gain while bringing daylight into classrooms and offices. A ground-source heat pump provides energy-efficient heating and cooling, while a 4,000-square-foot photovoltaic array can generate up to half of the building’s electricity. Bicycle storage, a shower for people commuting by bike, convenient transit access, and connections to High Point’s neighborhood-wide natural drainage system further contributed to the building’s LEED Gold certification.