Orting Middle School is a 83,650 square foot facility designed to house 850 students grades 6-8 on a 53 acre site. The school sits at the base of the foothills of Mt. Rainier. The mountain is such a prominent feature of the landscape that it became a signature element in the design process. The school is divided in to wings that are named after the major glaciers on the west side of Mt. Rainier; Carbon, Puyallup, Tahoma, Nisqually and Cowlitz.

The wings of the building are organized to maximize exposure to daylight and fresh air. In between the wings are two courtyards that contain rain gardens and a storm pond. The science classrooms all view these courtyards to take advantage of a site specific learning opportunity.

Large windows in the commons, library administration and art room take advantage of the mountain view.

A challenge for the Orting Middle School project was the site. The Orting Valley has significant wetlands, unsuitable soils and flooding issues. These factors mandated the construction of costly concrete piles to secure the foundation. Overall the project was completed on time and within budget.