Last week boom lifts were spotted at B.F. Day Elementary and it prompted the question, “What’s happening at the school?”
Turns out, contractors are preparing to replace over 200 windows that were installed in 1892, 1901, and 1916. Starting this summer, the contractors will prepare the building by repairing some cosmetic concrete details around the window openings, said Mitch Kent, a Seattle Public Schools project manager for capital projects. In the summer of 2026 the old wood-framed windows will be carefully replaced with thermally broken aluminum-clad wood windows.
B.F. Day Elementary School is the longest continuously-operating school building in Seattle and in 1981 was granted “landmark” status under Seattle’s Historical Preservation program. You can read more about the founding of the school on the Fremont Historical Society’s website.
Because of its landmark status, the new windows must match the historic appearance of the building. This will be a tricky project though, as the process of removing such old hardware may reveal damage to the concrete and brick masonry around the windows. Repairs to the adjacent masonry will also be part of the process, according to Kent.
Due to the invasive nature of replacing windows and the inevitable impact on the learning environment, the work must be done during the summer months when school is out of session. The project is slated to take place in two parts: the first this summer and the second, the following summer in 2026.
Once the new windows are finally installed, the school’s learning environment will be vastly improved since current conditions cause excessive temperature fluctuations. In addition, the long term investment will ensure energy efficiency, proper operability and safety for the student, in alignment with Seattle Public Schools Board Resolutions, according to SPS.
The $5.8 million project is funded by the voter-approved 2019 Building Excellence V and the 2025 Building Excellence VI Capital levies.
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