2019—Bonham High School

Bonham ISD—Bonham High School
Architect: Stantec

With a bond that had twice failed, the district engaged our design team for a “Board Readiness” proposal that resulted in the passing of a $30M bond to renovate and replace the 50-year old high school cherished by the community. The school is the center of its community and serves as a symbol of unity and identity for the rural area. The district saw this as an opportunity to create a vibrant learning atmosphere that brings students and faculty to the 21st century project-based learning model.

Design

“Rooted in site and context, the district wanted a modest aesthetic that responded to a conservative community. A new campus front door was an important design concept. Transparency of learning spaces connects active spaces to the outdoors while creating passive supervision. Project-based learning allows more types of spaces to facilitate new learning. By placing the breakout and flex spaces adjacent to the classrooms, students have the spaces they need to achieve their academic goals.”

Value

“Preserving the existing structure maximized the value gained by the district. Forming pockets of outdoor space adjacent to the classrooms was a cost-effective way of making more spaces available to the students and faculty. A multi-use gym accommodates multiple functions, saving costs associated with creating more spaces. Transferring homeroom ownership to shared work areas allowed teachers more opportunities for collaboration with students.”

Sustainability

“Adding natural light to the learning spaces and having all LED lighting lowers monthly energy costs. Sustainable products used contain low or no VOC, mostly recycled content, and had green initiative certifications. The native, drought-resistant landscaping requires minimal maintenance and supports local ecology. Creation of outdoor learning areas reduces unnecessary conditioned space of the building, reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the school.”

Community

“As the only high school in this rural area, local interest and involvement in visioning sessions for this project created excitement for the community. The school is the center of its community and serves as a symbol of unity and identity. The school’s new front porch reflects the values of its students and faculty. Library becomes a destination for students and residents, as access to the library after hours serves the community for adult education and other events/uses.”

Planning

“With a bond that had twice failed, the district engaged our design team to plan and facilitate a “Board Readiness” workshop that resulted in passing a bond to renovate and replace the 50-year old high school cherished by the community. Visioning revealed that the school needed to move towards a project-based learning model. Careful planning of the existing site resulted in having new construction, renovation, and demolition happen concurrently with a thoughtful phasing approach.”

School Transformation

“Building aesthetics were updated to reflect the spirit of the students and the faculty. Shift to project-based learning offers diverse learning spaces that did not exist before including flex, break out, and outdoor spaces. More opportunities for outdoor learning and connectivity to the community through the front porch and library. The district can now offer faculty recruits the opportunity to work in a 21st century facility that compares favorably with any district nationwide.”

Stars of Distinction Star of Distinction Category Winner