Dallas ISD—Geneva Heights Elementary School
Architect: BRW Architects
“The Geneva Heights Elementary School project reimagined a beloved community school built in 1931 in the Art Deco style. Located in a historic neighborhood, it was part of a $3.5 billion bond program aimed at creating modern, equitable schools while preserving their unique identities. The challenge was balancing community desires to preserve the historic structure with the need to meet contemporary educational standards.
The project faced significant site challenges, including a lot about a quarter the size of a typical elementary school, heavy traffic, and proximity to neighboring properties. These constraints made vehicle access and pedestrian safety critical concerns. Every square foot was optimized, with careful placement of the building and parking areas, preserving the original two-story Art Deco structure as the site’s anchor.
To address the divide between preservation and modernization, the school district and design firm conducted design charrettes with parents, teachers, and community members. The feedback emphasized the need for a state-of-the-art learning environment that respected the building’s heritage. The design incorporates this by preserving the core of the historic structure while adding a contemporary wing for 750 students from Pre-K to 5th grade. The addition includes naturally lit collaboration areas, outdoor gardens, and spaces for experiential learning, arranged around a central courtyard that fosters interaction.
Architecturally, the school’s terracotta-colored brick façade complements the neighborhood’s character, bridging historic and modern elements. The storm shelter, built primarily from concrete, uses materials like brick and tile to blend with the historic structure, which features a distinctive board-formed buffed texture. Horizontal projecting courses on the façade provide texture and visual interest at the street level.\
Opening for the 2024 school year as an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Campus, Geneva Heights Elementary successfully merges historic preservation with modern design, creating an inquiry-based learning environment that honors its history while preparing students to be creative, globally minded, and analytical thinkers.”
Design
Harmonizing historic preservation with modern educational innovation, the reopening of the elementary school created a
flexible, student-centered environment rooted in community, safety, and long-term adaptability.
Key Features:
- Historic Preservation: Restores original 1931 cast-in-place concrete and Art Deco detailing to maintain architectural legacy.
- Contextual New Additions: Adds a new classroom wing and entrance designed to match the scale and materials of the original building.
- Modern-Historic Contrast: A glazed volume connects the new addition to the historic building, clearly distinguishes the contemporary intervention from the original historic structure.
- Site Integration: Enhances street presence, preserves the existing tree canopy, and fosters community connection through thoughtful planning.
- Flexible Learning Spaces: Supports evolving educational models with collaboration zones, outdoor classrooms, and a future rooftop learning space.
- Restored Media Center: Updates include a refinished historic staircase and restored historic lighting to honor the past while improving functionality.
- Improved Access and Safety: Introduces parallel parking and multiple drop-off/pick-up zones for enhanced circulation and student safety.
- Integrated Storm Shelter: Seamlessly integrates a safety-compliant storm shelter without compromising design aesthetics or functionality.
- Community-Driven Design: Shaped by charrettes with teachers, parents, and local stakeholders to align with DISD’s equity and cultural goals.
- Technology Access and Engagement: Enhances learning with tech-rich, student-centered environments that promote inclusivity and lifelong learning.”
Value
Embodying the district’s dedication to equity, sustainability, and community integration, the renovated school delivers a
flexible, inclusive, and future-ready learning environment.
Key Features:
- Educational Equity: Ensures all students have access to inclusive, technology-rich, and culturally responsive spaces.
- Flexible, Adaptable Design: Supports engagement, collaboration, and project-based learning through student-centered
environments. - Future-Ready Instruction: Aligns with modern teaching methods to remain adaptable to evolving educational needs.
- Cost-Effective Planning: Maximizes investment value while preserving district funds through strategic, long-term planning.
- Improved Circulation: Adds parallel street parking and multiple drop-off/pick-up zones for enhanced safety and accessibility.
- Traffic Impact Study: Conducted to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and ensure pedestrian safety within the urban context.
- Operational Efficiency: Integrates practical site improvements to support both school operations and community connectivity.
- Sustainable Approach: Promotes long-term functionality while reinforcing community and educational resilience.”
Wellness
The Geneva Heights Elementary project is purposefully designed to support whole-child development through sustainable, wellness-focused, and high-performance features that enhance learning, health, and long-term value.
Key Features:
- Whole-Child Approach: Prioritizes physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being through a healthy, engaging, and responsive learning environment.
- Sustainability Integration: Utilizes energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and natural ventilation to reduce environmental impact and enhance indoor air quality.
- Daylighting and Comfort: Incorporates strategic daylighting with sunshades to maximize natural light, reduce energy use, and improve thermal and visual comfort.
- WELL Design Alignment: Features ergonomic furniture, biophilic elements, and indoor-outdoor learning areas that align with WELL standards to support health and engagement.
- Efficient Building Systems: Includes high-efficiency HVAC, low-flow plumbing, and LED lighting to promote operational sustainability and reduce long-term costs.
- Acoustic and Visual Enhancements: Enhances focus and cognitive function through optimized acoustics and access to natural light.
- Water-Conscious Landscaping: Employs native plants and synthetic turf to lower water usage and minimize maintenance demands.
- Cool Schools Partnership: Adds 90 trees through collaboration with the Texas Trees Foundation, enriching the campus environment and outdoor education opportunities.
- Future Rooftop Learning: Plans for an innovative rooftop learning space that connects students to nature and fosters hands-on learning.
- Financial Impact: Achieves a projected 20–30% reduction in energy use with a 15–20% cost recovery within five years.
- Long-Term Benefits: Supports improved academic outcomes, student wellness, and enduring community value, reinforcing its role as a future-ready school.”
Community
The revitalized school honors its historic legacy and community identity while delivering an inclusive, student-focused campus that blends preservation, innovation, and sustainability.
Key Features:
- Historic Preservation: Maintains the school’s original 1931 Art Deco architecture, celebrating its role as a cultural and educational landmark.
- Community-Centered Design: Developed through collaborative engagement with parents, educators, and local residents to reflect shared values and aspirations.
- Student-Centered Learning: Introduces flexible, modern learning environments tailored to support diverse, inquiry-driven
educational approaches. - Inclusive and Equitable Environment: Prioritizes diversity, belonging, and equity to ensure all students feel valued and supported.
- Outdoor Learning Spaces: Incorporates nature-based learning areas that enrich the educational experience and student well-being.
- Sustainable Design: Embeds environmentally responsible strategies to reduce impact and promote long-term campus performance.
- Culturally Responsive Elements: Reflects the neighborhood’s identity and heritage through thoughtful design details and
programming. - Strengthened Neighborhood Identity: Reinforces Geneva Heights as a source of community pride and connection for future generations.”
Planning
The renovation and addition of Geneva Heights Elementary exemplifies collaborative, equity-focused planning and design that honors community roots while delivering a sustainable, adaptable, and future-ready learning environment.
Key Features:
- Equity-Driven Vision: Aligned with the district’s mission to advance educational equity across all design and planning decisions.
- Historic Preservation: Maintains the school’s longstanding identity and significance within the local community.
- Community Engagement: Inclusive planning process involved parents, teachers, and neighborhood stakeholders to reflect shared educational priorities.
- Student-Centered Design: Emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging through adaptable, student-focused learning environments.
- Modern Learning Spaces: Features flexible classrooms, collaboration zones, and outdoor learning areas that support curriculum evolution and student agency.
- Sustainability Focus: Incorporates sustainable practices and energy-efficient systems to reduce long-term operational costs.
- Phased Construction Strategy: Executed in phases to minimize disruptions and ensure cost-effective implementation.
- Technology Integration: Embeds advanced learning technologies to enrich teaching and learning experiences.
- Post-Occupancy Evaluation: Commits to ongoing assessment of functionality, energy performance, and long-term educational impact to ensure continued success.”
School Transformation
The transformation of the 1930s school blends historic preservation with modern educational design to create a forward-thinking, student-centered International Baccalaureate campus that honors its legacy while preparing students
for the future.
Key Features:
- Community Advocacy and Historic Preservation: As enrollment declined, the school faced potential closure, sparking
passionate debate and advocacy from community members and Preservation Dallas, ultimately leading to its renaming and
preservation efforts. - Bond-Funded Revitalization: Part of a $3.5 billion bond initiative, enabling comprehensive updates while preserving the
school’s historic character. - Modern Learning Environments: Incorporates flexible classrooms, adaptive spaces, and outdoor learning areas designed for inquiry-based education.
- IB Primary Years Campus: Reopened in 2024 as an International Baccalaureate campus focused on global awareness and
inquiry-driven learning. - Technology Integration: Features advanced technology tools to support student engagement, creativity, and academic growth.
- Sustainability: Embeds sustainable practices to support high-performance learning environments.
- Restoration Efforts: Preserved historic integrity by refinishing original metal sash windows, upgrading outdated replacements with modern, complementary designs, and reinforcing the roof to support a new code-compliant system.”
Star of Distinction Category Winner