The school building features a commons area, which includes a student activity center, a dining facility, a study area, and an informal social gathering place. The commons area can also be used as a 330-seat theater. Surrounding the central commons are administrative offices, instructional areas, student lockers, and food service. An 800-seat
auditorium is also located adjacent to the commons. The
physical education complex, located at the terminus of one of the wings (referred to as "halls,") consists of a large multipurpose
gymnasium with bleacher seating for 2,900 and a six-lane
swimming pool short-course competition swimming pool with retractable bleachers for 400 spectators. Northwest received multiple updates per a 2008 bond issue, such as: new tennis courts (completed 2010), new astroturf football field (completed 2009), new bleachers, permanent concessions stands and locker rooms in the football stadium, new physical education classroom (previously wrestling room), new wrestling room and weights room (previously north 1/3 of gym), new gymnasium (south of current gym; on current baseball field), as well as a new business department and more classrooms. ==Extracurricular activities==