The Daily Dig
Skanska has signed a $99 million contract with the Issaquah School District to build the district's new high school in Issaquah, Washington. The deal covers phase one of the project and hits Skanska's U.S. order bookings for Q1 2026.
Phase one includes the school building, a covered parking garage, an athletic field, and supporting site amenities. The scope also includes significant right-of-way work to improve public infrastructure and site access. Work starts this month, with completion expected in August 2027.
The project has a long backstory. Voters approved a bond in 2016 for a fourth comprehensive high school, but legal challenges and land-use appeals delayed it for years and drove costs up significantly.
The district moved forward with a scaled-down plan using approximately $146 million from the 2016 and 2022 voter-approved measures, plus state School Assistance Program funds and interest earnings. The school board approved the revised plan in April 2025. The school is designed to relieve overcrowding at Issaquah and Skyline high schools, while keeping future expansion options open.
Project Snapshot:
Project: Issaquah New High School, Phase One
General Contractor: Skanska
Owner/Client: Issaquah School District
Location: Issaquah, Washington
Sector: K-12 Education
Contract Value: $99M (approx. SEK 900M)
Scope: New high school building, covered parking garage, athletic field, site amenities, right-of-way infrastructure improvements
Construction Start: April 2026
Estimated Completion: August 2027
Total Project Funding: Approx. $146M
Funding Sources: 2016 and 2022 voter-approved bonds, state School Assistance Program funds, interest earnings
Project Phase: Phase One
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A 16-month schedule covering a high school, parking garage, athletic field, and meaningful ROW work is tight. Subs bidding future phases should be watching phase one closely. How it performs on schedule will shape delivery decisions and who gets called back.
The right-of-way scope creates real coordination risk. Utility conflicts, inspection sequencing, and jurisdictional handoffs between a public road project and an active school construction site add complexity. Subs with local Issaquah and King County experience will have an edge.
