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Georgetown ISD

2021 Caudill Class

By | Clients

Huckabee is excited to celebrate with our partners, Georgetown ISD and Northwest ISD, in receiving the highest honor for educational design in Texas – the Caudill Award! The TASA/TASB Exhibit of School Architecture competition showcases new and renovated Texas schools and celebrates excellence in planning and design of the learning environment. We are thrilled to have two Caudill award-winning projects in each of the past two years. It is in large part to our partnership with visionary districts who continue to influence school design and pursue the best environments for their students. Read more about the 2020-21 Caudill Award winners by clicking here.

The winning projects received at least four stars from six areas of distinction, making them eligible for the Caudill Award, which is named after Texas architect William Wayne Caudill (1914–1983), whose progressive concepts continue to influence school design.

Georgetown ISD won for the retrofitting of Tippit Middle School. This is the second Caudill Award for Georgetown ISD (Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning) and its third project to receive consideration (Wagner Middle School). Click here to learn more about the project. Northwest ISD won for the reimagining of its elementary prototype, Lance Thompson Elementary School. Click here to learn more about the project. 

2020 TASA / TASB Awards

By | Clients

Northwest ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and Georgetown ISD have been recognized by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for their design and instructional vision. Their school designs received Stars of Distinction in this year’s TASA / TASB Exhibit of School Architecture; two of the schools, Lance Thompson Elementary School (Northwest ISD) and James Tippit Middle School (Georgetown ISD), also qualified for the prestigious Caudill Class.

The Exhibit of School Architecture awards are given at the discretion of a 12-member jury, which includes: four school board members, four school administrators, and four members from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Southern Region. The juried exhibit awarded Stars of Distinction for Excellence to 25 projects in one or more of the following six areas: design, value, sustainability, community, planning, and school transformation. Click below to view the submissions.

Stars of Distinction for each campus include:

2019 Caudill Award Winners

By | Clients

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.

Exhibit of School Architecture

By | Clients

Congratulations to Godley ISD, Rockwall ISD, Georgetown ISD and Mansfield ISD, your vision for four unique projects has been recognized through the TASA/TASB Exhibit of School Architecture awards! The awards program showcases new and renovated Texas schools and celebrates excellence in planning and design of learning environments. Projects are awarded Stars of Distinction in up to six categories for Design, Value, Sustainability, Community, Planning and School Transformation. Our client and firm award winners include:

Godley High School  |  Godley ISD

Star of Distinction in the Community category

Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy  |  Rockwall ISD

Star of Distinction in the School Transformation Category

Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners  |  Mansfield ISD

Caudill Class finalist, Star of Distinction in the Design, Community, Planning and School Transformation categories

Hammerlun Center for Leadership & Learning  |  Georgetown ISD

Caudill Class finalist, Star of Distinction in the Design, Value, Community, Planning and School Transformation categories

The Jandrucko Academy and the Hammerlun Center also ranked among the top six award winners and are eligible for the prestigious Caudill Class award, which will be announced in early 2020. Eligible projects include those that receive four or more Stars of Distinction.

Congratulations to our clients and project teams!

Hammerlun Center Dedication

By | Clients

February 5 was a celebratory day for Georgetown ISD as they officially “opened” their new administration and training center in one of the district’s historic buildings. Huckabee team members joined the Georgetown community for a ribbon cutting, tours of the campus and one very special dedication.

GISD’s administration center is named after Jerry Hammerlun—an icon in the Georgetown community, a beloved former colleague of the Huckabee team and a fierce advocate for education. 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.

Photo credit Jerrod Wittman, “The Bearded Wonder”

The Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning serves as home-base for more than 100 district employees. It is a collaborative and innovative learning space for educators, featuring office space plus a state-of-the-art professional development center that emphasizes flexibility, choice and collaboration. District employees have access to maker spaces, professional learning labs, planning rooms and more. Their space mimics those that are found in their schools.

From the start, GISD wanted to preserve the history of the building. The Hammerlun Center was built in 1924 and was the original home to Georgetown High School, later serving as the district’s middle school, and most recently, Williams Elementary School. Huckabee worked diligently to pay respect to the architecture of the period while reflecting the current culture of learning in GISD. The exterior remains largely unchanged while the interior blends a more industrial and professional aesthetic.

The opening of the Hammerlun Center represents the culmination of a years-long effort to redefine learning in Georgetown ISD. It’s a one-of-a-kind campus that is truly reflective of the way GISD wishes to engage students, educators and administrators within an exciting and supportive learning culture.

Photo credit Jerrod Wittman, “The Bearded Wonder”

LEsolutions Award

By | Clients

Huckabee and Georgetown ISD recently received a 2018 LEsolutions Planning and Design Award in the new learning category for George Wagner Middle School. The LEsolutions Planning and Design Awards recognize excellent learning environments that are the result of a thoughtful, thorough planning process. We are honored to receive this award and excited to share it with all the individuals who came together to make this project a reality.

Wagner Middle School was part of a district-wide initiative to redefine the Learner Profile for students in Georgetown ISD. Community members, teachers, students and other stakeholders engaged in meaningful dialogue through educational summits, surveys and interviews to arrive at a new Learner Profile—one that emphasized choice, customization and innovation.

The new Learner Profile ignited an exciting, highly-collaborative planning and design process. The team was fully invested, making sure everything about Wagner Middle School pointed back to the district’s vision of an innovative and inquisitive learner. As a result, the final design embodies a place of purpose and exploration, a place that gives students freedom and responsibility in choosing how they learn.

Within the school, academics are broken into three learning neighborhoods with movable glass walls in the classrooms for maximum flexibility. The campus features multiple collaboration zones—including a large learning stair in the cafeteria and commons—for teachers and students. Outdoor learning spaces, a makerspace and a video lab are just some of the ways students can experience learning and embrace creativity.

To read more and view Huckabee’s winning submission, click here.

About the LEsolutions Awards

The LEsolutions Awards recognize learning environments that positively impact learning and teaching and that inspire change and forward progress. The group behind these awards is the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), a non-profit whose sole mission is to improve the places where children learn. A4LE believes that great schools are the result of an interactive planning process, and the LEsolutions Awards highlight schools that came about through sound planning and skillful design.

Wagner MS Caudill Class

By | Clients

George Wagner Middle School in Georgetown ISD was named a finalist for the Caudill Class, the highest honor awarded as part of the TASA / TASB Exhibit of School Architecture competition. The school received four Stars of Distinction in Design, Community, Planning and School Transformation. Within the same district, Purl Elementary School received three Stars of Distinction, situating GISD as the only school district with two recognitions for 2018-2019.

Wagner Middle School opened in 2017. It’s a beautiful and exciting campus that is playing a critical role in Georgetown ISD’s evolution toward choice, customization and innovation in instruction. The design was the result of a comprehensive planning process that unified ideas from school leaders, community members, students and educators. Huckabee is honored to share this incredible recognition with the many people who imagined what Wagner could become.

The configuration of the school emphasizes choice and shared learning. Academics are split into “dens” for 6th grade, STEM and humanities. Each den features classrooms, labs, flex space, a teacher design lab and outdoor patio. The district removed classroom ownership to support more collaborative and customized instruction, requiring the dens to be highly adaptable and suitable for use by multiple teachers with a variety of curriculum needs and student learning styles.

Dens surround a 2-story commons that brings learning, socialization, assembly and collaboration together into one space. The team prioritized transparency as a way to promote personal responsibility for students and passive supervision for teachers. They adopted a use for all common areas and corridors by using furniture to maximize space for learning.

Wagner Middle School is progressive not just in design, but in how educators approach instruction. The learning environment supports autonomy, trust, responsibility and a more project-based approach. The enthusiasm for learning is noticeable in the way students buzz around the building, accessing every nook and cranny to design their learning experience.

About the Exhibit of School Architecture

Wagner Middle School is one of four Huckabee projects to be recognized in the Exhibit of School Architecture competition. GISD’s Purl Elementary School also received multiple Stars of Distinction in the categories of Community, Planning and School Transformation. Fort Bend ISD’s James Patterson Elementary School and Kaufman ISD’s Kaufman High School received recognition for School Transformation.

The Exhibit of School Architecture awards are given at the discretion of a 12-member jury, which includes: four school board members, four administrators, two representatives from the Texas Society of Architects and two representatives from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). To be eligible for consideration for the 2018 Exhibit of School Architecture, projects had to be newly constructed or renovated public education facilities completed in the past five years.

About the Caudill Class

The Caudill Class is reserved for projects that received four or more Stars of Distinction. It is the TASA / TASB Exhibit of School Architecture’s highest recognition and is named after Texas architect William Wayne Caudill (1914–1983), whose progressive concepts continue to influence school design. Winners will be announced in January.

Exhibit of School Architecture

By | Clients

Huckabee is excited to announce that Fort Bend ISD’s James Patterson Elementary School, Kaufman ISD’s Kaufman High School, Georgetown ISD’s Annie Purl Elementary School and Georgetown ISD’s George Wagner Middle School received Stars of Distinction for the TASA / TASB Exhibit of School Architecture competition. It’s a recognition we are proud to share with our incredible partners! The awards highlight excellence in planning and design of learning environments.

Patterson Elementary School and Kaufman High School received recognition for School Transformation. Purl Elementary School received Stars of Distinction for Community, Planning and School Transformation. Wagner Middle School received the highest honor, being noted in the categories of Design, Community, Planning and School Transformation and qualifying for the prestigious Caudill Class. Notably, Georgetown ISD was the only school district to receive honors for multiple schools.

Finalists in the Caudill Class are selected based on receiving four or more Stars of Distinction. The award is the highest level of recognition for the competition and is named after influential Texas architect William Wayne Caudill (1914-1983). The winner will be announced in January.

About the Award-Winning Projects

Each of these schools was the result of a thoughtful planning and design process, and each feature unique attributes that inspire, excite and influence learning.

Patterson Elementary School in Fort Bend ISD is a LEED certified campus. The design creates a more engaging and collaborative space, where students and teachers break out of the classroom for instruction. “Learning pockets” are found throughout, from the 2-story library with flexible furniture, to bench seating in corridors, collab space in classroom wings and an outdoor garden and patio.

Kaufman High School underwent a complete transformation. Multiple buildings were brought under a single roof with unifying elements such as an open and collaborative bistro / library / commons. A new performing arts center, competition gymnasium and CTE wing established a more comprehensive campus. Notably, CTE programs were elevated with the inclusion of a state-of-the-art culinary kitchen, robotics labs and television studio.

The design of Purl Elementary School is inspired by the nearby town square. Classroom wings surround a high-volume commons in the same way storefronts surround the county courthouse, creating a central hub of activity. While interior finishes, furniture and function take a modern form, exterior detailing borrows from the aesthetic of the community’s historic buildings. This community-driven school also features a unique volunteer lab in the secure entry vestibule.

At Wagner Middle School, the configuration emphasizes choice and shared learning. Students have a home base in one of three “dens” for STEM, humanities and 6th grade. They have the ability to spill out from dens into collaborative workspace, outdoor space, the commons, corridors, a maker space and the library. Transparency is critical to the model, and the design of classrooms, teacher design labs and common areas emphasize sightlines and connectivity.

The award-winning projects, along with other projects submitted, will be displayed at the TASA / TASB Exhibit of School Architecture at the annual convention on Sept. 28-30 in Austin. To learn more, visit www.texasschoolarchitecture.org.

About the Exhibit of School Architecture

The Exhibit of School Architecture awards are given at the discretion of a 12-member jury, which includes: four school board members, four administrators, two representatives from the Texas Society of Architects and two representatives from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). To be eligible for consideration for the 2018 Exhibit of School Architecture, projects had to be newly constructed or renovated public education facilities completed in the past five years.

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.

 

Huckabee at TASA/TASB

By | News

Team Huckabee is at TASA / TASB this weekend, sharing insights with our partners at three break-out sessions. Here’s when and where to find us:

Process not Product: Promoting authentic learning in elementary education
Kerri Ranney is joined by Dr. Benny Soileau and Dr. Joel Nolte of Huffman ISD and Tona Blizzard of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD at the TASA/TASB convention in Dallas for this session that focuses on how to leverage design, instruction and community to create a supportive and explorative learning environment. The team looks at Huffman ISD’s new elementary school and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD’s new STEM education campus.  The conversation explores the steps that were taken to fully adopt a culture shift at a campus and district level that promotes skills-based education and a love of life-long learning. A VR component and “Experience More” goggles are included.

The session takes place at 7:30 AM on Friday, October 6 in Room D172.

Top 10 Conversations and Aspirations Influencing School Design
Kerri is joined by Konrad Judd, Huckabee’s Chief Design Officer, for a light-hearted 30-minute discussion on the top 10 things school districts are asking for now. Think David Letterman meets public education with a design twist. Kerri and Konrad count down the 10 most requested items, spaces and cultural influencers that are topping out wish lists across the state. From power outlets and parking spots to adaptability and autonomy, they’ll answer: why these items are being asked for, how they’re being used and how they are changing the learning experience for students and teachers.

The session begins at 9 AM on Friday, October 6 in the exhibit hall at TASA/TASB.

Furniture as a Learning Tool: Drawing inspiration beyond educational portfolios
Konrad, Tami O’Neal, Huckabee’s furniture coordinator, and Amy Wood, Granbury ISD’s Director of Technology, explore a case study on Granbury ISD’s high school reconstruction and the impact furniture had on curriculum and design. GISD looked beyond typical K-12 furniture options and designed a solution that maximized instructional and economic value for their $49 million modernization. They gained square footage, increased utilization and delivered a 21st century environment for less than they had estimated.

The session takes place at 1 PM on Friday, October 6 in room D172 during the TASA/TASB convention in Dallas. The session will be repeated at the EdSpaces conference in Kansas City at 3:30 PM on October 25.

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.