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Granbury ISD

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.

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.

stadium parking lot Huckabee Texas

Groundbreakings Across the State

By | Clients

At Huckabee, we love the communities we serve, and we love helping to provide students with quality facilities that enrich quality education. In the past month, our Huckabee teams have been all over Texas, sharing in our clients’ joys as new campuses are opened and future campuses are coming to life.

In Dripping Springs ISD, our Austin team joined Tiger Nation to celebrate homecoming week at a community spirit rally. The team had the opportunity to share the design for the renovation of Tiger Stadium with the public. The much anticipated stadium, which started construction in August, will feature 8,000 seats, a new press box and amenities and will be located at the high school.

In Granbury, our Fort Worth team helped Granbury ISD and Superintendent Dr. James Largent cut the ribbon on the completed Phase 1 of extensive high school additions and renovations. Phase 1 opens the new cafeteria and coffee bar, learning commons, fine arts wing and the Willie and Wanda Crossland Academic Wing which houses ninth graders. Construction continues on the school’s career and technology addition, auditorium and science lab renovations and athletic improvements. The completion of Phase 1 marks a years-long effort and collaboration between the district, community and Huckabee to provide students with an exceptional learning facility.

Huckabee has also been proud to open several new schools for the 2015-2016 school year, including new elementary schools in Gatesville ISD, Palmer ISD and Prosper ISD, as well as a new junior high school in Alvarado ISD.