Huckabee

The project encompasses a multi-phased educational village featuring a middle school and intermediate school under one roof with shared facilities to maximize value, address growth, enhance learning and encourage collaboration. It involves a new construction on a 260-acre site, featuring independent wings, a central lawn and dining space, and an emphasis on natural light and flexible classrooms.

Located in a fast growth district, the elementary school was designed to serve a new residential development, existing nearby neighborhoods and overcrowding at other elementary schools. The community desired a modern learning environment that would sustain student growth over time. The 21st century-ready school is designed for 850 students, with expansion capabilities for 1,000. It is divided into learning pods that feature teacher workrooms and collaborative spaces.

At the heart of the campus is a century old oak, a piece of history that was integrated into an instructional environment that represents a cross-section of past and future. From the oak, grew a learning courtyard that inspires exploration and connectivity. The newly constructed school surrounds the oak, framing a modern learning environment with classical architecture, a nod to historic roots while providing the opportunity to nourish a 21st century learning experience.

A community invigorated the district’s learner profile with student attributes focused on skill building. Believing that excellence begins at the elementary level, they inspired a school that draws on local history and creates a fun, relationship-based campus. It replaces a facility built in 1953 and is designed to mimic nearby historic square. Within its walls, the foundation is being laid for long-term student success with assistance from a kinetic, purposeful and energizing design.

When you evolve the practice of instruction, you change the perception of what a school can be. A community with a clear vision, a passion for learning and a focus on trust led to a new middle school that is agile and exciting—a place that creates ripple effects of change for students, the profession of teaching and education. The 173,000 sf school maximizes function, with care toward form. It reinforces community and complements a purpose to make every day unique and experiential.

The project is an adaptive re-use of a historic and iconic 1924 building. Formerly a high school, junior high and elementary school, today, it is the district’s center for leadership and learning. It focuses wholly on adult learning, redefining the look, feel and purpose of training space. The design is rooted in the district’s Learner Profile, emphasizing choice and voice. It draws on context and innovation, maintaining building integrity while creating progressive learning environments.

Created to reflect the district’s learner profile, this project sets precedent with highly collaborative spaces, flexible learning environments and a striking visual aesthetic that champions the district’s desire to create facilities that support their educational philosophy—as it is now and flex as it evolves in the future. Utilizing locally sourced materials, multi-functional design features encourage communication and provide diverse learning opportunities throughout the site.

In a rural setting, the new high school stands as an icon of growth, progression and community. The school embodies a vision of personal and collaborative learning and a deep connection to shared and communal experience. At 120,068 sf, the school incorporates academic and core requirements for 700 students. The building is arranged around the Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) and is used for instruction, socialization, dining, group assembly and serves as their library.

A 49-year-old high school + a vision for choice-driven education led to a $47 million renovation that delivers long-term value. The aging facility was transformed into a modern educational campus with a new 9th grade center, new CTE center, open concept learning commons and teacher commons that support dynamic scheduling. The reconstruction delivered a collaborative environment that supports choice-driven education and promotes a collegiate and professional experience for students and teachers.

Construction of a new Career and Technology Center replaced the district’s existing and aging facility. The new facility is located on the same site, adjacent to the former CTE building and on the site that housed the Transportation/Maintenance Department fronting the new highway expansion. Optimal technology, professional equipment and enhanced curriculum replicate real world environments providing students hands-on training for future professions.

The high school renovations were built to address numerous needs: aging infrastructure, a disjointed campus, a growing student body and safety concerns. Now, the campus feels like a new, ground up facility—thanks to thoughtful planning, responsive design and meticulous attention to building details. In a tight knit community, this flagship campus provides a place for students and families to gather, celebrate and embrace a renewed sense of pride in their school, their children and their city.

The school was a new concept campus for the district; it provided an opportunity to explore new design elements and educational approaches. The district wanted to create choice, allowing students to select the size of the space they wanted to work in, the type of furniture they wanted to use, what technology they needed and how much visual and acoustical privacy a project required. Drop-down zones can be found in pockets throughout the building, giving students plenty of space to spread out.

The new school was constructed as a way to consolidate the district’s Montessori efforts and to provide equal education opportunities to all students. Going from multiple campuses offering Montessori education to a single Montessori Academy helped the district maintain quality and continuity within the program. This provided the ability to rethink the students’ learning experience and create a safe, interactive and adaptable school.

The district wanted a progression of their existing prototype that moved toward choice-driven programs and environments. Through an exploration of 21st century learning, we formed an idea of how schools of choice and neighborhood schools could co-exist to provide enriching opportunities for all students. The new intermediate school prototype carried forward successful hallmarks of operational efficiency and quality environments while incorporating a new approach to flexibility and choice.

The new 54,340 sf early learning academy brings museum-level engagement to the school environment. It is 100 percent hands-on learning, incorporating vibrancy and delight into this uniquely defined space. The school is arranged into four pods, each with four interactive learning experiences. The pods also contain a multi-use commons, outdoor courtyard and age-appropriate amenities. All design elements tie directly into curriculum and professional learning.