Most educators agree that introducing young children, especially girls, to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects at an early age enhances students’ ability to learn critical and innovative thinking, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Teaching STEM subjects gives students basic literacy, thinking, and learning skills that will help with many areas of their lives. The…
Built to accommodate the full population of 900 students for assemblies or 450 students for lunch every day, the Commons serves as the heart of Parkway Elementary School. Each of the eight Learning Neighborhoods are themed with a different type of wolf and based on their native habitats, yet the commons is where they come…
While centuries ago Italians customarily added a local tree branch to their final wooden beam to pay respect to the trees that made their project possible, the final concrete roof pour topping out ceremony at DoDEA’s Vicenza High School recognizes the partnership between the Italian and American governments that has made this project possible. The entire building…
A new auditorium for Monahans High School is part of the 2019 Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD School Bond. The facility will encourage the school’s fine arts programs and provide a quality venue for community events. With seating for 1,000, the district has joked about bringing George Strait to Monahans based on the quality of their venue. Amazing…
Ashlee Horsely, AIA, and Zach Garrett, PE, are currently involved in the design and construction of K-12 projects with social stairs across multiple districts. Lubbock-Cooper ISD’s Liberty High School is structurally designed by Zach. One portion of this project involves the installation of social stairs. In their University of Parkhill 2022 course about social stairs,…
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…
The murals at Friona Primary School are more than just colorful decorations—they are storytelling masterpieces that celebrate the local heritage, engage students in imaginative learning, and honor a deeply personal legacy. Created in close collaboration with the Parkhill team, the murals were designed to transform the school’s Hub areas into vibrant, educational spaces. In the beginning, our team…
Construction for the Department of Defense Education Activity’s Vicenza High School continues! Parkhill is the prime architectural/engineering firm for this new school in Italy. Parkhill’s task from DoDEA was to design schools to meet forward-thinking learning objectives that combine Italian and American history, to be sustainable, and exhibit energy conservation. The site of the new high school,…
The new Morris McBride Elementary School was opened in July 2016. This facility is a state-of-the-art, 21st-century facility holding over 600 students and about 70 staff members. The layout of the building is open and welcoming with an abundance of natural light in all areas. The grade level areas are “neighborhoods,” the classrooms are “studios,” and each…