BNBuilders last week topped out a new two-story academic building at the Lakeside School campus at 14050 First Ave. N.E.
The new building is taking shape on what was formerly a softball field on the southwest corner of the private school’s 20-acre campus.
LMN is the architect. The new academic facility will be approximately 39,000 square feet and will house 20 classrooms.
English classrooms will line the west side of the building, science classrooms will be in the eastern portion and small breakout rooms will be located toward the back. In the middle will be a mixing zone of office spaces for both the science and English departments. There will also be a cafe and several communal spaces. Communal spaces will comprise private rooms for small-group study sessions, as well as a spacious atrium more suited to large get-togethers. Many first-floor classrooms will have access to outdoor seating.
Students will enter Lakeside’s new building via outdoor spaces designed for socializing and learning.

Construction began last fall. The building is expected to open in time for the 2026-27 term.
The DJC previously reported that the project is costing some $60 million. It will be entirely funded by alumni, student families and other donors.
The project team also includes Seneca Group; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, civil and structural engineer; Berger Partnership, landscape architect; Glumac, MEP engineer; Tree Solutions, arborist; Stantec, acoustic engineer; Dark Light Design, lighting; and Bush Roed & Hitchings, surveyor.
LMN previously designed the Paul G. Allen Athletics Center for the school.