Neah Bay School & Working Village

The Neah Bay K–12 School is a new 110,000 sf campus designed for the Cape Flattery School District in close collaboration with the Makah Tribe. Delivered through a progressive design-build model with Korsmo Construction and TCF Architecture, the project brings together academic, cultural, and community-focused spaces within a resilient coastal setting.

Formline’s role centered on the architectural expression of the exterior, the development of culturally sensitive program areas, and the design of the Working Village, a key component of the campus that extends learning beyond the classroom.



Cultural Integration & Architectural Approach

The project is rooted in a deep engagement with Makah cultural values, ensuring the architecture reflects and supports traditional knowledge systems. While TCF Architecture led the interior planning and delivery, Formline focused on shaping the building envelope and key gathering spaces to reinforce identity, material expression, and connection to place.



The exterior language responds to the rugged coastal context of Neah Bay. Balancing durability, weather resistance, and a grounded material palette with moments of warmth and tactility. Key gathering spaces were designed to support cultural practices, intergenerational learning, and community use, ensuring the school functions as more than an educational facility.



The Working Village

The Working Village is conceived as an outdoor extension of the learning environment, a place where traditional Makah teachings are embedded into daily life. Rather than separating cultural education from academic programming, the village integrates hands-on learning, storytelling, and land-based practices into the broader educational framework.



These spaces are intentionally flexible and informal, allowing for evolving teaching methods and community-led programming. The Working Village supports activities tied to craft, food, language, and cultural continuity, reinforcing the school’s role as a living cultural hub.



Resilience & Site Response

Located in a coastal environment with significant seismic and tsunami risk, resilience was a primary driver of the project. The campus is sited outside of the high-risk tsunami zone and designed to meet rigorous seismic performance requirements.



The architecture responds to challenging site conditions, including steep topography and exposure to harsh weather. Building systems, material selection, and detailing were carefully considered to ensure long-term durability, reduced maintenance, and occupant safety.



A Community-Centered Campus



The Neah Bay School represents a shift toward culturally responsive and community-integrated education. By aligning architectural design with Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental realities, the project supports both present-day learning and the long-term continuity of Makah traditions.