Wellness is an approach that focuses on supporting the whole child. School design impacts student behavior, development, and academic performance.

Share examples of how wellness strategies have been incorporated in the design of the new or renovated campus, including diverse scales and styles of learning environments, flexible furnishings, views of nature, opportunities for movement and activity, access to nourishment, safety considerations, technology-rich spaces, outdoor learning spaces, equity, and inclusive design features, and overall awe-inspiring features that can help activate learning, play, and reflection for children, inside and outside, during the school day. Explain how these inclusions relate to the overall educational goals of the project.

The Jefferson Early Learning Center offers Alief ISD’s youngest students a chance to experience the benefits of nature through outdoor activity, play-based learning, and hands-on exploration. The innovative, research-backed design of the 80,557-square-foot center focuses on the individual learner’s experience by providing various specialized environments tailored to diverse learning styles while the overall themes of nature and place are woven in through graphics and furnishings that reflect local experiences and ecosystems. The building, through its immersive environments, natural native landscapes, and courtyards, connects students to their culture and community, embodying what it means to be from Alief, the Gulf Coast, and the state of Texas.

The Martinez Early Learning Center is the inaugural pre-kindergarten campus for Alief ISD. The design takes the form of a village with winding pathways and neighborhoods that house immersive learning experiences to help build literacy and numeracy skills. Curated classroom experiences reflect themes that engage young learners, from space, oceans, and farmland to dinosaurs, construction, and cultures around the world.

Dallas ISD won the award for the renovation of South Oak Cliff High School, designed by KAI. In response to community concerns and a dedication to improving educational environments, the district increased the allocation budgeted for South Oak Cliff High School. The design solution focused on providing a healthy, safe, and equitable learning environment by addressing mechanical and functional deficiencies and right-sizing classrooms and extracurricular spaces. Inspirational design elements elevate the daily student experience and celebrate community pride in what has truly become a community space.