Abilene Independent School District
- k12 education, interiors
- Abilene, Texas
Project Scope
87,000 square feet, can hold up to 800 students
Construction Type
New
Project Delivery Method
Competitive Sealed Proposal
Project Components
Six learning neighborhoods for kindergarten through 5th grade, administrative spaces, a commons area, kitchen, fitness room, specialty classrooms for science, art, music, dyslexia tutoring, speech and physical therapy, a master librarian and computer area, and ancillary spaces
Merging students’ interest in gardening and a best-selling book on habits of highly effective people, the concept for Johnston Elementary School in Abilene is evident on its colorful walls of powerful phrases.
The biggest challenge was constructing it in the same site as the original time-worn school, and at the same time classes were being held in the old school. The new 750-student school consists of six learning neighborhoods for kindergarten through 5th grade, administrative spaces, a commons area, kitchen, fitness room, specialty classrooms for science, art, music, dyslexia tutoring, speech and physical therapy, a master librarian and computer area, and ancillary spaces. Function determined what materials would be used. Brick characterizes the learning neighborhoods, for example.
Among the features is a bright, vivid commons area full of natural, inspired accents of natural colors. The school provides flexible and collaborative spaces as a 21st Century learning facility. The six learning neighborhoods each house six classroom studios and a shared central hub. The neighborhoods are divided by grade level and provide flexible furniture for the various learning methods. Each learning neighborhood has a dedicated and enclosed outdoor learning area. This space is utilized as an outdoor classroom for student activities; gardening, exercises, reading, and lecture area where students can sit on tiered natural limestone benches under a semi-covered canopy. The design provides the students with a modern spatial experience relating to spatial transparency and diversity.
Services Provided
Architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, MEP, civil engineering
Awards
- 2016 Honor Award – AIA El Paso
- 2017 TASA/TASB Stars of Distinction in Value, Planning, and Transformation
- 2018 Abilene AIA Awards – Award of Honor
Project Leadership
At Parkhill, We're Designing and Building for
Your Tomorrow
