Repairing flood damage last spring at Mount Si High School, Snoqualmie Valley School District discovered a golden opportunity to add a new student commons in a forgotten internal courtyard.

Locked most of the time due to overgrown shrubbery, the area wasn’t used at all.

“It was completely external, surrounded by buildings,” said district spokeswoman Carolyn Malcolm.

The aftermath of the January flood raised the area’s profile. District staff realized that, by enclosing it and opening it to students, the courtyard would double eating space by 3,000 square feet, solving crowding in halls and the school lunch room.

The structure of the new lunch area, dubbed the Wildcat Court, came together last week, as a huge crane hauled steel trusses into place. The commons will open in January.

While construction work has caused some congestion, the space will ease hall traffic when opened, acting as a shortcut for students who previously winded around the courtyard.

When finished, Wildcat Court will add a new site for the student-run DECA store.

“We’re going to have a food area, and we’ll be working with the culinary program to have different food items that’ll be inside the courtyard,” said DECA advisor Elaine Marie Berg.

The second area will be a new classroom and merchandising site called the Wildcat Den. DECA will sell school spirit-themed clothing and smaller food items. Berg described it as a one-stop shop for students.

Students who are currently working in the DECA store are looking forward to the additional space they’ll be given.

“It will be nice to have display cases, coolers and more food,” said senior Allyson Evers. “It’ll be more spacious. I’m excited to see what the transfer will be like.”

Junior Daniella Romo hoped that it will attract more customers.

The future commons will have decorative sound paneling, two food courts and skylights admitting natural light.

There will also be limited stage lighting for theater events with colored lighting, a sound system, and a screen for projections and tables.

The multi-purpose area allows students to do anything from lunches to dances, said Clint Marsh, project manager for the Wildcat Court.

Insulation and a foundation have already been installed.

For more details on the Wildcat Court, visit www.svsd410.org.