2018—Keller Center for Advanced Learning

Keller ISD—Keller Center for Advanced Learning
Architect: Corgan

Seeking to create a career technology education center that would support the local community and advance student opportunity, an underutilized school was converted into the 190,000-square-foot Center for Advanced Learning. The building simulates a professional environment with a focus on real-world application, featuring maker spaces, collaborative and experimental learning zones. Seamless integration between renovated and new spaces creates a cohesive and modern learning environment.

Design

The design features cutting-edge technology to prepare students for careers of their choice, allowing students to discover their passion. The facility emulates a real-world environment, providing opportunities for students to innovate, research and experiment through application-driven scenarios. The adjacency of programs and orientation of the main hallway maximizes the use of technology and equipment while promoting cross-collaboration between students with different ideas and expertise.

Value

Re-lifing an underutilized building allowed the district to create larger spaces. Thoughtful orientation of programs created flexibility in space and utilities, allowing the district to conserve financial resources and avoiding amenity duplication and overcrowding at existing high schools. The facility operates on alternating day schedule to maximize the number of students enrolled. The high school offers CTE pathways that are in the fastest-growing and highest-paying industries in the region.

Sustainability

Re-lifing allowed for re-purposing of existing resources. Mechanical systems were supplemented with new high-efficiency equipment, daylight was used in all teaching and gathering spaces, local materials were used, and native plants were used to reduce water usage. Spaces were renovated only once in the phased process. Several portions of the building accommodate dual functions; a high school teaching space, a business to cater the local community and meeting spaces for district-wide use.

Community—Star of DistinctionCommunity

Programs were planned in partnership with industry experts through on-going meetings with the local business community. The current and future needs of the community were assessed to maximize job opportunities for students and further integrate and invest in the local market. This high-level of engagement in the design process led to a sense of place and ownership within the community. Several programs are open to the broader community, serving a dual purpose as a continuing education center.

Planning—Star of DistinctionPlanning

District workshops with industry experts revealed a key planning goal: create project-based learning spaces that allow students to thrive and center around the “learning on display” model. Collaboration spaces and indoor/outdoor maker spaces are interwoven to create cross-curricula learning. Each space connects to the learning stair, which acts as the spine of the school. Spatial adjacencies, including active and passive learning spaces, were optimized for efficiency and flexible technologies.

Transformation—Star of DistinctionSchool Transformation

The school prepares students to compete in a global economy, offering diverse opportunities emulating 21st century workplaces with an emphasis on soft-skills. Emerging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment are supported through un-tethered spaces, creating an immersive environment. Spatial variety allows students to work, learn, practice and pitch adjacent to program clusters. Blended creative areas and simulation spaces for emotional and social learning allow students to hone their craft.

Stars of Distinction Star of Distinction Category Winner