Yoakum ISD—Yoakum Junior High School
Architect: RMA Architects
New School entrance, Parent Drop-Off & Admin Office Suite. 4 science Lab/Classrooms, New Cafeteria, Kitchen,Competition Gym, Locker rooms and coaches offices. Renovated core of Existing School enlarging the existing Library. Converting existing admin space to Teacher work area. Adaptive re-use by converting unconditioned gym and Mall to BandHall & Student Gathering. New Parent Drop-off at Entry, New parking lot to double as stadium visitor parking & addition/renovation to existing Bus Drop-off.
Design
The two additions to the main campus building have brought all essential school facilities into a single, secure building. Materials used match the existing 1969 structure while it’s massing, design, and fenestration bring the school into the 21st century. An all-new secure Entrance is designed as the single access point and provides a well-defined identity for the revamped campus. The new competition gym was given it’s own striking entrance that keeps public and school activities separate.
Value
Over 50% of the existing building envelope has been updated to reflect the current energy codes. The new Junior High additions allow all essential facilities to be accessed without exiting the building. A new Parent Drop-Off and Parking Lot serves a dual purpose as parking for the Junior High and after hours parking for the Stadium. The most valuable change comes in the form of the drastic enhancement in student safety achieved by eliminating all unsecured entrances.
Sustainability
The additions feature extensive use of natural lighting to bring daylight into the existing building. Large overhangs help protect fenestration from direct sunlight and solar heat gain. All new and renovated spaces benefit from energy efficient lighting and HVAC upgrades. The gymnasium and locker rooms were responsibly renovated, preserving the embodied energy of the existing building, to house a new Band Hall, two Rehearsal Rooms and additional flexible Teaching Space.
Community
The all-new Junior High Competition Gym is designed as a self-contained athletic facility as well as a community event space. Public events and gatherings can occur during school sessions and be isolated from the secured student population. To alleviate inadequate surface drainage conditions, a new storm sewer system directs water from the campus and surrounding streets to green-space away from local residences.
Planning
The Firm worked closely with City and district administrators, community leaders, faculty and staff to develop the bond and address serious issues with the Junior High campus. One primary planning challenge was to create identities for the Junior High and High School which had been sharing the site and facilities for decades. Creative use of existing structures and new additions resulted in a promenade that provides the physical separation but retains a visible link between the two schools.
School Transformation
The existing school featured a number of buildings spread across the campus and borrowed several essential facilities from the High School including the Cafeteria and Band Hall. Today, the Junior High is contained in a single secure building and once unusable spaces are helping to modernize the learning experience for middle school students. A few of the renovated and re-adapted spaces include the media center, the Mall, new Bandhall, and rehearsal spaces that were formerly other uses.
Star of Distinction Category Winner