Originally built in 1907, with additions in 1914, 1930, and 1958, Lincoln High School has long held a strong physical and visual presence in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. The campus remained unoccupied for sixteen years until 1997, when Seattle Public Schools (SPS) began operating it as a swing site for elementary, middle, and high schools undergoing construction. In response to the district’s growing enrollment, Bassetti was commissioned to restore this designated Seattle landmark and transform it into a viable twenty-first-century learning facility—one that celebrates its early-twentieth-century roots.

Restoring a Seattle Landmark
SPS envisioned a safe, comprehensive high school that honored the historic campus while supporting multiple teaching modalities, universal access, and a connected school culture. Lincoln’s exterior was revitalized to its original splendor with repointed masonry and replacement of damaged terra-cotta elements. The historic entry was restored and upgraded to meet universal-access and safety codes through the addition of a new glass entry, creating a bright, welcoming threshold that visually links the historic fabric with new interventions.

Transforming Interior Learning Spaces
The school’s historic auditorium was reimagined as a light-filled library and media center. Once concealed behind a suspended acoustical tile ceiling, the ornamental plaster beams and original coffers were uncovered and restored, offering students a glimpse into the school’s architectural history. Instructional spaces are organized into academic neighborhoods that include classrooms, breakout spaces, labs, and teacher planning rooms—supporting collaboration and flexible learning.

A New Heart for the Campus
A distributed commons forms the new social and academic heart of the school, extending outward into a protected courtyard that encourages both informal gathering and outdoor learning. This configuration strengthens campus connectivity and reinforces student belonging.

Honoring Legacy and Community Identity
Lincoln’s distinctive stylistic details contribute to neighborhood identity and reflect a cultural continuum that links current students to generations of alumni. When the restored campus reopened, both alumni and new students were welcomed back to a beautiful high school that honors its past while defining the future of Seattle Public Schools.