ENGLISH + ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, INC.

This Pre-K through 5th-grade new school was designed as a 21st Century Learning environment.  The design incorporated outdoor learning in two exterior classroom environments--one on a vegetated roof linking the two classroom wings and the other as a performance space in the north-central courtyard.  The site configuration incorporated surface drainage in multi-use areas to maximize the site’s ability to manage high-volume storm water in Houston’s frequent high-intensity rainfall events while keeping the water away from the building interior.  Natural colors, textures, and patterns were incorporated into the common areas and classrooms, further connecting the building interior to the pristine outdoor environment just south of Buffalo Bayou.