Abilene ISD Dyess Elementary School and Lubbock-Cooper Middle School have been named in the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Exhibit of School Architecture Awards. Each received Stars of Distinction in multiple categories. The schools were included in an exhibition at the 2023 TASA Midwinter Conference held from January 29 to February 1 in Austin, Texas.

Abilene ISD Dyess Elementary School

Dyess Elementary received Stars of Distinction for Excellence in Design and Community. As part of a local team, Parkhill designed Dyess Elementary with engineering support from Fanning, Fanning, and Associates, and Enprotec / Hibbs & Todd. The design process was focused on student-centered learning spaces and programming unique to military-connected students.

The collaborative design included teachers, administrators, and maintenance staff, with support from the base commander, the community liaison officer, and military-connected families. From the school’s entry, the history of military service is clearly honored. A continued aviation theme connects the school to Abilene’s history with Dyess Air Force Base and the namesake, Lt. Col. William E. Dyess. Another exciting feature includes a Maker Space Lab to support student learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Lubbock-Cooper ISD Middle School

Lubbock-Cooper Middle School received Stars of Distinction for Excellence in Design and Value. The district’s design goals for the project revolved around collaborative, flexible learning spaces, and the visibility of students for teachers and administrators. Classrooms in the 21st-Century Learning Neighborhoods feature moveable walls to maintain visibility and support multiple teaching and learning styles.