NEWS // 01.20.20

Two projects receive highest honor in TASA Exhibit of School Architecture

Congratulations to Mansfield ISD and Georgetown ISD, recipients of the prestigious Caudill Award. Huckabee had the rewarding and exciting opportunity to help these districts express their vision through two unique facilities. The Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners (MISD) and the Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning (GISD) are among four schools to earn the highest honor in this year’s competition. Each project received at least four Stars of Distinction in the Exhibit of School Architecture (EoSA), qualifying them for consideration in the Caudill class.

Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners

The new 54,340 sf early learning academy brings museum-level engagement to the school environment. Designed for 3- and 4-year olds, it is 100 percent hands-on learning. The school is arranged into four pods, each with four interactive learning experiences that are play-based but purposeful (each element ties into curriculum). The pods also contain a multi-use commons, outdoor courtyard and age-appropriate amenities.

Macro to micro, the design of the Jandrucko Academy draws on curiosity and a sense of community inherent in adults and children. While structured—from thoughtful adjacencies and symmetrical composition to well-defined curriculum—it embraces play, imagination and freedom for educators to design learning to suit personality. The school was holistically created, with the intent to impact students, teachers and the community while irreversibly changing the way early learning is expressed.

The project won four Stars of Distinction in the areas of Design, Community, Planning and School Transformation. To view the submission, click here.

Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning

The project is an adaptive re-use of a historic and iconic 1924 building. Formerly a high school, junior high and elementary school, today, it is Georgetown ISD’s administration building / center for leadership and learning. It focuses wholly on adult learning, redefining the look, feel and purpose of training space. The design is rooted in the district’s Learner Profile, emphasizing choice and voice. It draws on context and innovation, maintaining building integrity while creating progressive learning environments.

The Hammerlun Center was named in memory of Jerry Hammerlun, a long-time Georgetown community member and community leader. Jerry was passionate about mentoring future leaders and ensuring his community embraced the future while honoring the past. He played a critical role in the vision of the new administration building before his passing in June 2017

The project won five Stars of Distinction in the areas of Design, Value, Community, Planning and School Transformation. To view the submission, click here.

The EoSA is sponsored by Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards. It recognizes excellence in planning and design of the learning environment. The Caudill Award is named after Texas architect William Wayne Caudill (1914-1983). The architectural projects will be on display in the exhibit hall and the winners will be recognized at the 2020 TASA Midwinter Conference in Austin January 27-28.