When a catastrophic fire destroyed 70% of historic Whatcom Middle School on November 5, 2009, Dawson answered the call to rebuild one of Bellingham's most beloved landmarks. Built in 1903, the 100-year-old building had served 580 students and stood as an icon of educational continuity for the community.
Dawson led a design-build team with Dykeman Architects and Reid Middleton Engineers through what many called impossible: stabilizing the damaged structure, constructing a new steel skeleton inside the preserved historic facade, and modernizing every system for 21st-century learning. Using early BIM coordination and phased design delivery, construction crews began building while design was still being finalized in other areas of the building.
On September 1, 2011, less than two years after the devastating fire, the doors of historic Whatcom Middle School reopened to thousands of cheering community members, students, staff, and supporters. The school had reopened one full year ahead of the original projected schedule.
The project received recognition including the ASCE Local Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award and the WACA Concrete Community Award, reflecting the innovative engineering and disciplined project management that made the impossible possible. The school's iconic main entryway bears the motto "Waste Not Thy Hour," a fitting reminder of the relentless pace that defined this project from day one.
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Dawson orchestrated one of the most remarkable construction feats I've witnessed over my 30+ year career. Their leadership, integrity, focus, team approach, and relentless pursuit of excellence were the reasons we opened Whatcom Middle School a full year ahead of schedule.
From emergency repairs to ground-up builds, Dawson teams deliver across Southeast Alaska and Northwest Washington.
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