McKinney ISD—Ruth and Harold Frazier Elementary School
Architects: Corgan
The new Ruth and Harold Frazier Elementary School is the unifying element in a rapidly growing suburban development while relieving overcrowding in the northern sector of the district. The school celebrates the role of nature in education and daily life by providing opportunities to connect with students and staff alike. Natural context, neighborhood vernacular, and accommodations for a suburban lifestyle were all key design considerations. The school opens the door for a new pedagogical vision for the district by allowing and offering new educational opportunities ranging from STEM programs to special needs education.
Design
Inspired by the neighborhood’s natural amenities like the Trinity River, lakes, and trails, outdoor learning spaces reinforce a connection to nature. Residential scale along with the materiality of regional limestone, earthtone brick, and wood mirror the dense neighborhood, creating a sense of home. Open spaces with hands-on learning environments remove walls to reinforce collaborative learning and student interaction. The axial layout allows for efficient circulation and visual supervision for safety. By providing different grade-level groups their own identity positioned between shared learning spaces, varying degrees of public/private learning zones are created.
Value
A dedicated special education wing creates a restorative place to allow for district flexibility. Maximizing city and district resources, the school offers after-hours community use and student access to the adjacent park. As the district’s first prototype, the design ensures the layout, MEP, and construction type can weather future economic changes. Spaces for new curriculum offerings, like STEM and collaborative learning, give these students opportunities that are not available at other campuses.
Wellness
“Situated in a walkable neighborhood, students pass nature trails and expansive green space, then are greeted by a welcoming front door. Research shows students able to manipulate their environment feel more engaged, therefore multiple collaborative spaces, private nooks, and moveable furnishings provide a sense of autonomy. Open spaces, flexible classrooms, and intuitive technology elevate the teacher experience, and resources specific to the special needs population foster growth and wellbeing.”
Community
“Rooted in nature, the school reflects the community’s commitment to ecology, celebrating the environment and connection to place. Designed with the relationship to the future park in mind, accessible shared outdoor spaces enhance culture and diversity. As the central hub, common spaces for after-hours community activities accommodate diverse needs and interests while unifying the neighborhood. A focal point to engage, connect, and learn, the facility enriches the quality of life while embodying harmony and inclusion.”
Planning
The community supported the new elementary prototype to facilitate the district’s evolving educational models. Stakeholders prioritized hands-on learning with collaborative environments and flexible furnishings, tools, and technology. An anchor to a master planned development, care was taken to understand site access patterns and student population density. The design aesthetic reflects the guiding principles of nature and warmth, human and neighborhood scale, community-focus, and a feeling of safety.
School Transformation
Learning is not limited to the classroom walls; the open design prioritizes flexible collaboration zones, outdoor learning, and hands-on maker spaces. A school should not be a silo; Frazier Elementary is a key part of the neighborhood landscape and identity. Students need a place to belong; an iconic entry and engaging shared spaces promote identity and connection. Transparency provides a feeling of safety; a simple floor plan, expansive glazing, and neighborhood zones impart security and calm.
Star of Distinction Category Winner