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Groundbreaking in Boerne ISD

By | Clients

Boerne ISD and Huckabee broke ground on Capt. Mark Tyler Voss Middle School this month. In a special ceremony, the district recognized the school’s namesake, the late Mark “Tyler” Voss, who was a Boerne graduate and Aircraft Commander in the U.S. Air Force.

The school serves grades 6-8 with a full complement of fine arts, CTE and athletic amenities. The library, which is centrally located to three classroom wings, offers access to a unique exterior courtyard. The outdoor space features tiered seating and a small platform that can be used as a stage. The 2-story facility was built on a greenfield site in one of the fastest growing communities in the district. It opens in fall 2019 and will be the district’s third middle school.

Wagner Middle School Opens

By | Clients

Students from George Wagner Middle School in Georgetown ISD moved in to their new facility, welcomed by a parade of students, community members, teachers and Mr. Wagner himself. The campus is one of two new schools that support a more progressive approach to teaching and learning.

In recent years, Georgetown ISD adopted a learner profile that promotes critical thinking, innovation, exploration and personal responsibility. The schools, including Wagner Middle School and Purl Elementary School, along with renovations to Tippit Middle School, Georgetown High School and an administration building, are designed to support the new learning model. They are highly collaborative and flexible, technology rich and supportive of not only student learning, but also, professional development for educators.

At Wagner, Learning centers for STEM, humanities and a 6th grade wing include classrooms, labs and teacher planning rooms. Movable walls, flexible furniture and overhead reels for power maximize adaptability for small and large group instruction. In each space, four central classrooms can open into one large area, promoting collaboration and transparency.

Other unique features include an expansive art patio and learning courtyard adjacent to the library. The library also features a maker space and movable walls that open to create a multi-purpose area that overlooks the student commons. The commons and cafeteria feature a learning stair, pre-event space and large stage that adapts to multiple purposes. The central Design Lab, located adjacent to the core of the building, has direct views into the commons, providing a key opportunity for teachers and administrators to collaborate and design engaging learning experiences while modeling the expectations of all learners in the building. Direct views allow the teachers to passively supervise students who choose to learn in the commons between, and even during, dining activities.

 

Back to School 2017

By | Clients

Back to school is a meaningful time for Huckabee, as it represents the culmination of a collaborative work effort to plan, design and build facilities that support the success of all students. 

This fall, Huckabee opened 21 new schools: campuses that run the gamut from conventional learning spaces to next-generation incubators for education. Some school districts addressed growth and created equitable learning environments, others replaced aging facilities and infrastructure; all responded to the needs of their communities, students and educators.

We are proud of our work and proud to have partnered with some of the greatest school districts in Texas. Here are a few highlights of what opened this fall:

Montgomery ISD, Keenan Elementary School and Oak Hill Junior High School
The district’s 2015 bond included a new elementary school, new junior high school and new high school, as well as comprehensive renovations at all other campuses. The opening of Keenan Elementary School and Oak Hill Junior High School mark the first completed phase of the bond program. The schools share a site and a design aesthetic, blending modern and traditional elements into two engaging campuses.

Weatherford ISD, Shirley Hall Middle School
Weatherford ISD has long awaited the opening of Shirley Hall Middle School. The new facility replaces a nearly 50-year old campus, helping the district address aging conditions, improve efficiency and modernize the learning environment. The space is divided into learning neighborhoods that support collaboration and project-based instruction. Transparency, modern colors, ample light and outdoor courtyards enhance the learning experience for students and educators.

Mansfield ISD, Charlotte Anderson Elementary School
The opening of Charlotte Anderson Elementary School marks the end of the 2011 bond program for Mansfield ISD. It’s the final of five prototype elementary schools Huckabee designed for the district—replacing aging facilities with more secure, engaging and modern learning spaces. Huckabee and Mansfield ISD have been partners for more than 28 years and recently kicked-off design for a new slate of projects as part of the 2016 bond program.

Longview ISD, East Texas Montessori Prep Academy
At 150,000 sf, Longview ISD’s new Montessori academy will house students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and Head Start programs. The school is designed to support personalized and self-paced instruction and is unique in that it’s one of the only Montessori schools run by a public school district. It’s designed to support small learning communities with shared amenities, including two enclosed courtyards / gardens for play and instruction.

Georgetown ISD, Purl Elementary School
Exciting things are happening in Georgetown ISD, as the district is implementing a new learner profile with the opening of two new schools. The first to open is Annie Purl Elementary School. A traditional design aesthetic borrows from nearby historic Georgetown. Inside, classrooms feature movable walls, writable surfaces and flexible furniture; collaboration spaces are abundant; and elements such as a learning stair, reading nooks and a maker space support exploration, creativity and serendipitous learning opportunities.

Killeen ISD, Roy J. Smith Middle School
Roy J. Smith Middle School is one of two campuses opening this fall in Killeen. The school is designed to provide a flexible learning environment within an efficient and sustainable facility. It houses small learning communities in addition to a STEM academy. Other features include a high-volume library, outdoor learning courtyards and modern finishes and materials.

Liberty Hill ISD, Rancho Sienna Elementary School
Liberty Hill ISD’s newest elementary school features a Hill Country aesthetic, constructed with locally-sourced materials including stone, metal panels and a pitched metal roof. The facility was designed for students in pre-kindergarten to 5th grade with the intent to inspire creativity and collaboration and to support an exciting learning experience. Classroom wings feature flex space with access into a large outdoor learning courtyard. In the library, a spiral staircase leads into a reading nook.

WISD Opens Shirley Hall MS

By | Clients

Huckabee joined Weatherford ISD for the Cornerstone and Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the new Shirley Hall Middle School. District administrators, community members, students and staff were in attendance, and after the ceremony, toured the new campus. Tim Hopkins, AIA, the Associate Principal on the project, was able to participate in the Cornerstone Ceremony when the masons presented him with the masonry tools and the cornerstone.

The school replaces an aging campus, which opened in 1967, the same year that Huckabee opened its doors. It serves grades 6-8.

The design promotes flexibility, adaptability and sustainability and features learning neighborhoods with science and computer labs, student collaboration zones and shared teacher workstations. Other spaces include a large stage that connects the cafeteria with theater classrooms, an open-concept library / media center, fine arts wing, competition gymnasium and weight room, protected outdoor learning courtyards and athletic facilities.

Huckabee is proud to have partnered with WISD since their 2015 bond planning began. A successful election gave way to many projects that are helping to modernize facilities and support 21st century learning. Congratulations Weatherford ISD!

Montgomery ISD back to school

MISD Opens Two New Schools

By | Clients

Huckabee joined Montgomery ISD for the ribbon cutting ceremony for Keenan Elementary School and Oak Hill Junior High School. It was an exciting day for the community and marked the first major milestone in the district’s $256.75 million bond program.

Other projects include a new high school (opening in 2018) and multiple renovations. The district is being reconfigured to support current and future growth, address aging conditions and create engaging learning environments for all students.

Keenan Elementary School is designed for 800 students in pre-K through 5th grade and will feature collaboration spaces in each classroom wing. Oak Hill Junior High School is designed to serve 1,250 students and houses a theater wing and competition gymnasium. Both facilities feature multi-use activity rooms to act as flexible learning space and were designed to meet high efficiency standards.

Huckabee is proud to be a part of these two projects. We are partners in the success of all students, and these schools are modeled to support the unique needs of the MISD students, staff and teachers in their educational goals. Congratulations Montgomery ISD!

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West Wins ENR Best Project

By | Clients

West ISD’s new West High School / Middle School was awarded ENR Texas & Louisiana’s 2017 Best Project for K-12. The project was recognized for excellence in design, safety, innovation and teamwork. Designed by Huckabee and constructed by Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, the high school / middle school opened in 2016 and serves grade 6-12. Notable features include a 588-seat performance hall that transitions into a collegiate-style lecture hall; a 1,000-seat competition arena; movable walls, writable surfaces and flexible furniture in the classrooms; a 2-story STEM Lab and Learning Resource Center with pre-making, making and post-making spaces; and a large student union and pre-event space that serves as a civic center for the community. The campus also features an ICC 500 tornado shelter.

Prosper ISD Stadium Design

By | Clients

Prosper ISD’s new district stadium and natatorium complex delivers a state-of-the-art facility for the growing community. The complex will be located to the west of Prosper High School and will be utilized for athletic, extracurricular and community programs. 

The stadium accommodates 12,000 spectators. The home side features a split-level arrangement with 6,000 seats and a 2-story press box. Amenities include a multi-purpose space, press and scouting rooms, film deck, radio / TV box and kitchen. A half-time facility and community room overlook the field on the north end of the complex. Up to 400 people can be seated in the space. The turf field is sized for competition football and soccer. Paved areas provide staging for half-time entertainment.

The natatorium is 34,000 sf with a 16-lane competition pool, a 4-lane warmup pool and two one meter diving boards. Spectator seating accommodates up to 500 people.

Furniture as a learning tool

By | Clients

Granbury High School’s comprehensive modernization created a learning environment that fosters a collegiate / professional culture for students and teachers. Furniture selection played a prominent role in the design, as Granbury ISD and Huckabee looked beyond typical to create a flexible, engaging and technology-driven space.

While the renovation touched the entire facility, the greatest transformation occurred in three key areas:

Student Union
The student union encompasses the dining hall, bistro, coffee bar, student commons and media center. It’s a fluid space that is connected visually and physically to encourage connectivity in multiple ways.

Soft seating is used to create inviting areas for informal learning, socialization and idea sharing. Tables of varying height are ideal for study and small-group learning. Breakout rooms in the media center feature collaborative technology that can be used for pre-making research and group exploration activities. A learning stair is used for social engagement as well as a group presentation space. All furniture can be re-arranged to suit student needs.

Teacher Planning Rooms
Granbury ISD adopted dynamic scheduling to maximize square footage, create supportive learning communities and promote teaming between teachers. Teacher planning rooms were designed to support this shift. They are centrally located throughout the facility, with glass on all sides for increased access and visibility to all students. Within each space, teachers have desks, collaborative workspace and private meeting rooms.

Career and Technology Wing
A career and technology addition allowed the school district to provide comprehensive program offerings in a central location. Students have access to new programs, new technologies and new opportunities to learn in a highly professional space. Each classroom or lab was designed around program needs, including a new culinary arts studio, a new aviation workshop, a courtroom, a collegiate-style lecture hall and health science classrooms, among other programs.

In other learning spaces, furniture selections improved mobility and flexibility. Classrooms are easily re-arranged to transition between stand-and-deliver and project-based learning. For many, furniture is no longer an inhibitor to learning and allows for more creativity and deeper engagement between peers and between students and teachers.

West ISD Film in New Markets

By | Clients

A Bright Future: West ISD Rises Up has been picked up in Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The documentary follows the story of West ISD, from the 2013 explosion that devastated the school district’s facilities and much of the town, to the day the new high school / middle school opened in 2016. It is narrated by five students who share their experiences, memories and hopes for the future.

New airdates include:

  • Houston: KHOU 11 at 4 PM on Jan. 15 (part I) and 3 PM on Jan. 22 (part II)
  • Austin: KVUE at 2 PM on Feb. 19 (part I and II)
  • San Antonio: KCWX Channel 2 at noon on Feb. 12 (part I and II) and 4 PM on March 11 (part I and II)

For more information visit www.restorewestisd.com or www.facebook.com/restorewestisd. To see behind-the-scenes and additional footage from the documentary, click here.

New Godley High School

By | Clients

Adaptability is a key theme in the design of Godley ISD’s new high school. Inspired by a college campus, the central feature of the facility is a grand Center for Learning & Innovation (CLI) that blends learning, social and civic use into an open-concept, adaptable space. The CLI features a café, library, collaboration rooms with movable walls, a film room, learning stair and access to the outdoors. It creates a mash-up of spaces that can be utilized in infinitely possible ways to customize the learning experience.

The new high school is designed to provide a variety of spaces for students to learn, with the goal of utilizing each space to its fullest potential and maximizing the educational benefit for our students. When students walk in on day one, they’ll experience a space unlike anything they’ve seen. It will set the stage for the type of collaborative learning you see on college campuses and in the workforce.

Dr. Rich DearSuperintendent, Godley ISD

The school will be designed in phases, with Phase 1 focused on core components and academics. The CLI is the epicenter of the school, which also includes a 3-story academic wing and athletic support spaces. Next to the CLI, an outdoor courtyard features benches and a projection screen, reinforcing concepts of community and social learning. On the north side, a second story deck overlooks the football stadium—a design choice inspired by collegiate stadiums. It too is adaptable, and GISD can purpose it for learning, social, athletic and public use.

The new school adjoins the current facility, which will be repurposed into a middle school. The close proximity of the high school and middle school campuses will increase schedule flexibility and academic opportunities. The schools will create a shared campus connected with pedestrian walkways. Phase 2 of the high school includes the addition of fine arts, CTE, a competition gymnasium, a performing arts center and expansion of athletics.

Godley High School will support 700 students in grades 9-12. Planning an innovative design within the budget of $28 million required thoughtful use of space, as well as careful consideration of how to phase the project to take advantage of available facilities and amenities. It also required a team approach, tested when the district and Huckabee were faced with an unanticipated budget challenge: following a successful bond program, preliminary projections for tax revenue were lower than anticipated—a result of a decline in natural gas mineral property taxes (a large percent of the tax base is rooted in the natural gas mineral industry).

The team immediately worked with the construction manager to create a priority list and alternates that would frame the budget, successfully bringing an incredible facility within the new cost parameters. They focused on creating spaces that had multi-purpose uses, such as a CLI, outdoor learning courtyard and presentation rooms purposed for academic, athletic and community needs. The connection between the stadium and learning space also supported multi-functional use. This focus on adaptability minimized inefficiencies in the program and maximized budget.

When the anticipated budget for the new campus declined, it took a team effort to bring costs back into alignment with the district’s educational goals. That’s Huckabee’s strength, working with clients and partners to collaboratively develop solutions that meet educational needs, budget goals and ultimately benefit students, the community and taxpayers.

Josh BrownHuckabee

At 120,000 sf, the new Godley High School is an innovative and engaging space that will support district growth—in enrollment and educational delivery—for decades to come. It’s a project that will change the community and support its development into a destination district while also providing interactive, real-world experiences for students. The campus is set to open in 2018.

A Bright Future: West Rises Up

By | Clients

“What I’ve learned is we could teach inside a cardboard box…learning can take place anywhere. And what I’ve learned about our kids is they’ll respond if we’re truly doing our best to engage them,” said David Truitt, West ISD Superintendent in the new documentary, A Bright Future: West Rises Up.

The documentary follows the story of five students, following the 2013 explosion that devastated West ISD’s school buildings and much of the town. Through their eyes, it tells the story of the community’s resilience in the aftermath of the disaster, leading up to the opening of the new schools this past August.

We’ve got a lot of people in our district and our town who didn’t let tragedy keep them from succeeding. We’re excited for this film to tell their story in such a memorable way.

David TruittSuperintendent, West ISD

You’ll see captivating images showing the damage to the old schools and the beauty of the new educational spaces, but this isn’t actually a story about buildings. It’s a story about resourceful, resilient people.

Rush OlsonDirector, A Bright Future: West Rises Up

The film will make its broadcast debut on KWKT FOX 44 (Waco-Bryan-College Station) on Thursday, October 20 at 9:30 PM, with hour two running the following evening at the same time. The station will run both hours back-to-back on October 21 from 4-6 PM; sister station KYLE Y28 will air the film on October 22 from 7-9 PM. The documentary will be shown in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on November 26 at 11 AM and November 27 at 7 AM. Additional airings will be announced.

Rush Olson, of FourNine Productions and Rush Olson Creative & Sports, and director of photography/editor Dave French of Ludisian Legion Entertainment have gathered interviews and footage for more than three years. Their finished film includes stories of getting children back to school 100 hours after the explosion, years spent on a campus consisting entirely of portable buildings and some remarkable athletic and academic achievements. Being, at its heart, a story about learners, the filmmakers felt the choice of narrators should reflect its essence.

The students’ voiceovers will accompany interviews with numerous others connected to the story. Follow the story of West ISD at www.restorewestisd.com or www.facebook.com/restorewestisd.

Lake Creek HS Groundbreaking

By | Clients

Lake Creek High School broke ground on Thursday, kicking off construction of Montgomery ISD’s second high school campus. The facility will open in 2018, blending secondary education with a collegiate and professional feel that supports engaging interactions and real-world experiences.

The campus is designed along a “main street corridor” that connects the media center / library and academic wing to public core components including fine arts, athletics and CTE programs. Academic wings are grouped in a flexible arrangement that support multi-disciplinary programming. A modern materials palette combines limestone, brick, metal panels, large expanses of glass and engineered wood veneer.

Click here to read more about the groundbreaking ceremony and the project.

First Look at West HS / MS

By | Clients

West ISD’s new High School / Middle School opens Wednesday. . . a special moment for a community that has been waiting for a new building to call home after losing theirs in 2013.

The school was designed with a civic-inspired architecture, a representation of how central it is to the community. It features two distinct academic wings (for middle school and high school); an open-concept commons, dining hall and competition gymnasium; two Learning Resource Centers complete with learning stairs and second story break-out rooms; and collaborative learning space that connects classrooms with an open and flexible layout.

West High School / Middle School serves up to 1,000 students in grades 6-12. It is one of 10 new Huckabee-designed schools that open in August 2016.

Westpark Primed for Day One

By | Clients

The new Westpark Elementary School opens on Monday, marking a celebratory day for students and families within the Benbrook and Fort Worth ISD communities. The campus replaces an aging facility and provides students with a modern space that is light and bright with large classrooms, an outdoor learning courtyard and an engaging library / media center.

The media center features flexible furniture and a large window seat (stretching the length of the wall) for small-group and large-group instruction. An outdoor learning courtyard expands the classroom and contains playground equipment as well as space for countless learning, gathering and play opportunities.

The 80,000 sf school was designed to support traditional and project-based instruction; it serves students in pre-K through 5th grade. Westpark Elementary School is one of 10 new Huckabee-designed schools that open in August 2016.

Lancaster ISD Breaks Ground

By | Clients

Huckabee joined Lancaster ISD to break ground on two new elementary schools this week. The campuses, West Main and Pleasant Run, will replace existing buildings to help LISD move forward with 21st-century educational environments and improved safety and security. Each building will feature multiple outdoor learning courtyards; “Interactive Learning Labs” with makerspaces and writable surfaces; expansive libraries with flexible furniture; windowed corridors to support “learning on display”; natural daylighting; and multi-purpose gymnasiums which also serve as ICC-500 tornado shelters for increased safety. The schools will open in 2017.

Re-building Marshall ISD

By | Clients

Huckabee and Marshall ISD are building a legacy for more than 5,500 students in Marshall, Texas. A groundbreaking ceremony last week marked a major milestone in a years-long effort to bring new facilities and much-needed improvements to the district. The community came together to kick off construction of four new campuses and to celebrate their shared investment in the future of Marshall’s kids.

After a failed bond program in 2014, Marshall ISD asked Huckabee to join the team in hopes of creating a successful bond program for the following year. Community input was key, and Huckabee facilitated discussions with community members to develop a plan to address aging conditions and expand the learning environment to meet the needs of 21st century education. The result was a plan that would re-align grade levels, bring four new schools on-board and consolidate or re-purpose multiple campuses. The $109 million bond referendum passed with 57 percent approval in May 2015.

In his speech to the community during the groundbreaking ceremony, Marshall ISD trustee Chase Palmer said, “We have finally figured out that in order to be successful, we must invest in our kids and our town.”

Three new elementary schools (82,000 sf per) will be constructed on existing sites, with demolition taking place following construction. A new junior high school replaces a building that was constructed in 1924; it was originally used as the high school before being re-purposed in the 1980s as the junior high school. The new 182,000 sf facility will serve 1,300 students in grades 6-8.

Hommel library Huckabee Texas

Hommel ES Wins TEXO Award

By | Clients

A renovation of Hommel Elementary School received first place in the TEXO Distinguished Building Award competition for the Design Build I category. Huckabee partnered with Sedalco Construction Services for the project.

The team worked with Everman ISD to complete a 31,000 square foot renovation of the school that included new classrooms and safety and security upgrades. The project was of special importance to the community because of the building’s historic significance: The facility opened in 1922 as The Everman School and served grades K-12. Through the years, and multiple renovations, the facility had lost some of its original elements.

While the project focused on creating usable space for academics, the team was also able to bring some of the historic charm back to the campus, restoring an old gym floor (which is now the library) and re-create its markings, refinishing the original floors, utilizing tin ceilings and bead-board wainscoting and replacing the windows with period-style panes.

Hommel Elementary School Huckabee Texas
Hommel students Huckabee Texas
The Everman School Huckabee Texas
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Weatherford corridor Huckabee Texas

WISD Breaks Ground on MS

By | Clients

Construction of Shirley Hall Middle School is underway! Huckabee and Weatherford ISD broke ground this month on the project, which will help the district address aging conditions in the 49-year old school, as well as provide much needed space and technology  for the growing student population. The new middle school—which will open in 2017—is one of several projects in a $74.9 million bond program. Huckabee is also working with the district to design a 6th grade addition to Tison Middle School and address district-wide improvements to facilities, safety and security.

The new middle school features a flexible and efficient environment that supports 21st century instruction, collaboration and school-wide learning. Three grade-level neighborhoods offer access to classrooms, collaboration zones, outdoor learning space and a collective teacher work area to encourage formal and impromptu interactions. Throughout the campus, natural daylighting, clerestories and borrowed light in interior spaces is utilized to create a bright and open feel, as well as support learning on display and exceptional supervision into each space.

Shirley Hall carpool lane Huckabee Texas
glass corridor Huckabee Texas
glass room Huckabee Texas
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School Business BW Huckabee Texas

Kilgore ISD Welding Lab Opens

By | Clients

Huckabee designed a new welding lab for Kilgore ISD—a facility that will be used in partnership with Kilgore College to provide dual-credit courses for students. It’s part of an emerging trend to promote a Pre-K through 16 education in a Pre-K through 12 learning environment.

Across the state, Huckabee is working with clients to design facilities that support this approach—from environments that foster the development of project-based learning, problem solving skills and pathway exploration to  STEM education, career / tech programming and dual-credit courses. The goal is to help students prepare for college and the workforce while providing them with opportunities to experience higher education at the primary and secondary level.

Kilgore High School’s new shop features 6,000 sf for welding, including eight dual welding stations for 16 students with room to expand to 20. It is Phase 1 of an overall master plan for the high school to offer multiple career pathways and certifications for students. To read more about the project, click here.

Timmerman Elementary groundbreaking Huckabee Texas

Groundbreakings Across the State

By | Clients
Pflugerville groundbreaking Huckabee Texas
Kaufman ISD groundbreaking Huckabee Texas

Huckabee celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies with Kaufman, Pflugerville and Whitney ISDs. Each event marked the culmination of an extensive planning and design process to bring state-of-the-art academic and athletic facilities to local students.

Kaufman ISD broke ground on their high school addition and renovation project. It’s part of a district-wide effort to address aging campuses and provide new, technology-rich instructional space for a growing student population. The design will create a unified campus, connecting disjointed buildings into a singular facility that brings academics, fine arts and athletics together. New technologies will be utilized to encourage innovation in learning and interior classroom windows help create a learning-on-display environment. The campus will be complete in 2017.

In Pflugerville ISD, school board members broke ground on a new elementary school and new district stadium. Timmerman Elementary School will replace the district’s oldest campus, providing students with a modern facility that features sustainable elements, offers flexibility in learning spaces and supports future growth. The new stadium seats 10,000 spectators and will serve multiple district high schools. Both projects are part of a $287 million bond program. Huckabee partnered with the district to develop a comprehensive plan for the bond. The new facilities are slated to open for the 2016-17 school year.

Huckabee joined Whitney ISD for the groundbreaking ceremony for their new athletic complex. The $11 million project was approved by voters in May and is the second phase of a master planning process that Huckabee helped the district develop (in 2012, WISD passed a $24.6 million bond for a new middle school and district renovations). The athletic complex will include a new competition stadium, new baseball and softball fields and four new tennis courts. The projects will be complete in time for the 2016-17 school year.