Austin ISD - Repurposing Elementary School Sites
Written By:
Date: May 11, 2022
Julio Carrillo, AICP, LEED AP, is a Senior Planner & Manager with Parkhill’s Planning & Interiors Practice. With over 15 years of experience, he has managed and directed projects ranging from architecture and green building consulting to urban design and community planning. Through his diverse knowledge of residential, multifamily, corporate office, educational, institutional, municipal, and neighborhood design, Julio, helps to plan and build sustainable communities.
In 2019, Austin ISD rolled out a list of campuses proposed to be closed for various reasons. Their size and the significant community impact these campuses have made Parkhill wonder about potentially repurposing these facilities to build community in similarly critical situations. This paper describes the options and potentials for two elementary school campuses: Sims Elementary and Brooke Elementary. Parkhill proposes solutions that are compatible with their neighborhoods and inspire the East Area community (an area that has historically been displaced and gentrified). This study proposes converting (repurposing) these two sites into market-driven, affordable residential units. The two examples shown herein are based on vertical mix-use entitlements for both sites.
