May 8, 2020 – A Preservation Award will recognize the McKinley High School Senior Core Building (Building W) this year.
The oldest public high school in Hawai‘i, President William McKinley High School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education recently undertook a large scale rehabilitation project at one of the core historic buildings on campus, Classroom Building W, a two-story structure which faces the Quad. It was the first extensive project at the Senior Core Building since it was originally constructed in 1940. Prior to repair, blackout paint from the World War II era could still be seen on the building’s windows.
The project prioritized much needed utility updates, accessibility improvements, and restoration of historic windows and original 1940s-era artwork to the Senior Core Building. The 2019 project took place in two phases, which allowed classes to continue throughout the school year with minimal impact to students.
Designer of record MASON Architects, Inc. notes, “The building is an early example of master architect Vladimir Ossipoff’s work. It features artistically significant glazed terra cotta decorative elements manufactured by Gladding McBean and cast stone bas relief lintels created by artist Marguerite Louis Blasingame as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program in Hawai‘i. The use of terra cotta embellishment on the buildings at McKinley represents the most extensive use of this material on Spanish Colonial revival style buildings in the Islands.”
The building before and after rehabilitation.
Also notable are the building’s wide, wrap-around open lanais that simultaneously provide beautiful views, natural ventilation, and protection from weather.
California-based Gladding McBean Company supplied terra cotta materials to the school in 1940, and was again retained for the current project. In both campaigns, the attention to detail was impressive. Colorful breadfruit, taro, and gourds are unique handcrafted embellishments that reflect Hawaiian cultural elements in the school’s ornamentation.
Inside, the restored windows provide classrooms with ample natural lighting and ventilation. The original chalkboards were retained and adapted to fit current needs; with a coat of specialized paint, they now function as whiteboards.
The Preservation Award will be presented to the State Department of Education and the project team. With almost 300 public and charter schools in Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education is the only statewide public education system in the United States.
By Alison Chiu, Preservation Awards committee member.