Over the weekend, dogs from Northwest Disaster Search Dogs (NDSD) turned the old Lowell Elementary into their training ground! With Lowell set for demolition later this year, the building offered the perfect place for them to practice their search and rescue skills. By training in a real-life setting, these dogs are better prepared to help save lives in emergencies.

NDSD teams work under the guidance of emergency and law enforcement agencies, stepping in when people are trapped after disasters. The Tacoma Fire Department has also joined the action, using the Lowell building for mock drills and fire searches last week.

Lowell is just one of eight schools getting a new look, thanks to a $535 million construction bond approved by voters in 2020. Lowell students attend school at the West End swing site (the old Skyline Elementary campus) for the next two years while their new school takes shape. Demolition prep for Lowell starts this December, with construction of the new school expected to run from 2025 to 2026.