2019—Grand Oaks High School

Conroe ISD—Grand Oaks High School
Architect: PBK

Stretching into a heavily wooded, virgin site & establishing the flagship campus for a 6th Feeder Zone, this new high school serves as a visual precedent for regional affiliation, community identity & educational character. With an educational program showcasing best practices in safety, sustainability & NextGen Learning applications, this timeless icon is proudly poised to guide the Next Generation of learners into the Next Century.

Design

New campus responds to growth in rapidly developing quadrant of district; Collegiate exterior respects district’s “brand” & compliments residential architecture; Traditional exterior paired with progressive interior; Educational program infuses project-based learning with active learning spaces; Diverse learning spaces, adaptable furniture arrangements & campus-wide technology deliver a wholly responsive active learning environment; Environment encourages spontaneous interaction & collaboration

Value—Star of DistinctionValue

Every surface comprised of durable, low-maintenance materials that reduce life-cycle costs; Interior circulation spaces serve multiple functions catering to active learning while reducing footprint; Daylight introduced in every classroom; LED lighting, occupancy sensors, water conservation fixtures & efficient HVAC systems lower operating costs; Parking & clearly marked entrances to Fine Arts & Athletics wings enable access for community use; School constructed on time & under budget

Sustainability

Durable, low-maintenance building materials & construction applications; LED lighting, occupancy sensors, water conservation fixtures & efficient HVAC systems contribute to lower operating costs; Daylight in every classroom; Permeable synthetic running track mitigates drainage challenges; Building orientation, energy-efficient envelope, window placement & insulated materials contribute to reduce heat gain & optimize energy performance; Turf fields for athletic programs eliminate life-cycle costs

Community

Iconic high school serves as centerpiece of rapidly expanding community; Design team proactively involved community business, educators, parents & students; Campus community enhanced by peer-to-peer & student-to-teacher interactions via formal & informal spaces; Campus “ownership” enhanced through customizable social & educational spaces; Community connection enhanced by shared fine arts, extracurricular & commons venues; Community values reflected in Collegiate-inspired character

Planning

Heavy inclusion of community businesses, educators, parents & students to generate goals, establish vision & build consensus; Designated planning activities were conducted to strategize mixed-use gathering spaces & define program adjacencies; Intensive educator & student input was maximized to articulate the new & progressive interior themes & function

School Transformation

Collegiate-inspired exterior speaks visually to high academic aspirations & life-long learning; Plan represents a complete transformation & new paradigm for district’s interior educational environment; Shifts educational program from traditional departmentalization to NextGen Learning nodes with teaming & project-based learning (PBL); Infuses PBL with active learning spaces; Culture enhanced by peer-to-peer & student-to-teacher interactions in agile/flexible/adaptable spaces arranged by students

Stars of Distinction Star of Distinction Category Winner