Page 30 - spaces4learning, Fall 2020

EDUCATION DESIGN SHOWCASE • K-12
PROJECT OF DISTINCTION
SUNNYVALE
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
SUNNYVALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SUNNYVALE, TX
ARCHITECT
WRA Architects
WESTON EMMERT, AIA, NCARB 214-750-0077
PROJECT INFORMATION
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Doug Williams, Superintendent of Schools
COMPLETION DATE
August 1, 2019
GROSS AREA
74,941 sq. ft.
AREA PER STUDENT
125 sq. ft.
SITE SIZE
12 acres
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
464
CAPACITY
600
COST PER STUDENT
$30,583
COST PER SQ. FT.
$245
TOTAL COST
$18,350,000
24 FALL 2020
SUNNYVALE ISD HAS em- barked on an educational transformation that requires more of their school build- ings than a series of conven- tional classrooms can pro- vide. This new intermediate school is the District’s first school designed specifically to support the way Sunny- vale students and teachers interact with each other. The campus is divided into three equally-sized learning communities, or houses.
Each house includes nine classrooms on two floors along with breakout spaces and small group rooms. Each house is sized for equal numbers of students from each of the three grades. These students stay together in the same house for all three of their years
in this school. Each of the three learning communities overlooks the school’s large central Commons area and Media Center.
Dedicated spaces for Art, Science, Music, and Special Education also open onto the Commons. The public side of the campus includes Admin- istration offices, a light-filled Cafetorium, and a Gymna- sium that is also designed as an EF-5 Tornado Shelter.
Covered outdoor spaces on both the ground floor and second floor provide additional settings for learn- ing. Long spans of continu- ous glass and the absence of corridors allow virtually every corner of this school to enjoy open visibility,
yet with sound separation, enhancing the teaching and learning experience for all. Students of all various learn- ing styles have found their own favorite spot among the many different spaces in their new school.
photo © ICE Imaging/Kevin Halliburton photo © ICE Imaging/Kevin Halliburton photo © Parrish Ruiz de Velasco photo © ICE Imaging/Kevin Halliburton