Nestled among towering firs and winding trails at Point Defiance Park, the Science and Math Institute (SAMi) Environmental Learning Center meshes with the surrounding forest and zoo to create a dynamic, “wild” classroom. This two-story, 30,000 square-foot facility houses programming for Tacoma Public School's SAMi classes and the Point Defiance Zoo. Custom clerestory and king-post trusses span a high roof that fills the interior with natural light. An exterior second-floor patio on the north side of the building connects SAMi to the park’s trail network via a pedestrian bridge walkway, providing students with a gateway to the natural world. This project received a Citation Award in 2017 from AIA Southwest Washington.

 
photography by Janette Ryan