Project File: District revives abandoned building

Oct. 1, 2001
Briarmeadow Charter School, Houston

Finding new uses for abandoned buildings is an idea on which Houston Independent School District has capitalized. At one time, Briarmeadow Charter School was a food-processing plant with 90,000 square feet of space. For a price of $7 million, the plant has become an innovative school serving 550 K-8 students.

The project required the interior of the main building to be gutted, leaving only a concrete shell and some pre-engineered metal structures. The intent of the project was to instill the feeling of having a new school rather than just the transformation of an old plant. In order to achieve this goal, the design included a variety of finishes, such as corrugated and insulated metal panels, plaster and decorative concrete blocks.

A skylighted rotunda at the main entrance to the school, classrooms arranged in clusters of four around a carpeted space and a cafetorium with a movable partition further humanized the large building.

Architect for the project is ArcTec Associates (Houston); general contractor was Satterfield & Pontikes Construction (Houston).

For more information on these projects and others, visit www.schooldesigns.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...