Community Transitions Educational Specifications/Design Advisory Committee

Purpose(s)/Goal:

Develop Educational Specifications to inform the design for building for Community
Transitions program and OT/PT group on the Whatcom Community College (WCC)
campus.
After the educational specifications are completed, review and provide feedback on
schematic and design development drawings for the new Community Transitions
project.

Basis for Establishment:

The Community Transitions program serves students aged 18-21 who qualify for special
education services. A novel collaboration between Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Public Schools allows for a building to be planned and built on
WCC property to serve students in CT along with the co-location of the district’s OT/PT
staff, resources, and maker space.
Before designing the facility, a complete and accurate description of the desired
educational program, instructional activities, as well as the functional, spatial and
environmental needs must be established. This detailed description is referred to as
educational specifications. Educational specifications help clarify and direct the scope
of work and design requirements for the architects, engineers, and other professionals
working on the building design and site plan.

Decision-Making Process:

The committee will make recommendations based on research, discussion and input
gathered during the process.
Recommendations will be presented to the superintendent.

Plan of Work and Timeline:

The committee will work with the architects on the educational specifications and
design elements related to the new building.
Work on the educational specifications will begin in November 2023 and continue
through the winter/spring 2024. Schematic design for the new building will be
completed before the end of the school year.
The Community Transitions Specifications/Design Advisory Committee meetings will
focus on site/building specific unique items associated with the new Community
Transitions.
4-6 meetings (2 hours each) are anticipated.
- Meetings will be held on Mondays from 3:30 to 5:30 PM, December 11, January 8, January 22, February 5, and February 26
- Location: Whatcom Community College Foundation Building
- Evening Community Meetings; dates and times TBD
- Additional meetings as necessary; dates and times TBD

Members:

Jeff Coulter, Principal on Special Assignment, co-chair
Analisa Ficklin, Director, Special Education, co-chair
Andrew Krzysiek, Zervas Architects
Dominique Lantagne, teacher
Liz Madden, teacher
Courtney Ross, principal
Curtis Lawyer, Director, Capital һ��apps
Jessica Sankey, Chief Operations Officer
Jacqueline Brawley, Executive Director, Communications and Community Relations
Michael Copland, Deputy Superintendent
Mark Peterson, Director, Facilities and Sustainability
Brian Smart, Capital һ��apps Manager
Kurt Gazow, Executive Director, Educational Technology
Nathan Langstraat, Vice President Administrative Services, Whatcom Community
College
Brian Keeley, Senior Director for Facilities & Operations, Whatcom Community College
Kerri Holferty, Director for Access & Disability Services, Whatcom Community College
Sara Ullman, Planner, City of Bellingham
Brent Baldwin, Development Manager, Bellingham Public Works
Brenda Hill, Occupational Therapist
Barbara Roxas, Community Member
Phoebe Stockton, Teacher, Community Transitions
Laurel Taubel, Paraeducator, Community Transitions
Candice Lankhaar, Community Member
Emma Gleckman, Community Member
Terry Brown, Zervas
Amy Zimmerman, Principal, Zervas
Jed Ballew, Principal, Zervas
Shannon Darnell, Interior Design Director, Zervas
Les Reardanz, General Manager Whatcom Transit Authority
Kelly Bashaw, Associate Director, Workforce Funding Programs, Whatcom Community College