A new generation of school facilities features cutting-edge technology, more flexible learning spaces, and other enhancements.
At Dr. Abraham Cano Freshman Academy in Texas, a college campus style and other 21st-century elements had students buzzing with excitement as they returned to school.
Caty Gutierrez pronounced her new school as “pretty chill.”
The 14-year-old is one of the first students to attend Dr. Abraham Cano Freshman Academyin Harlingen, Texas, a $29 million, state-of-the-art facility that opened in August.
“The school reminds me of a college,” she said.
One of several new school facilities to open this year, Dr. Abraham Cano is part of a new generation of facilities that feature cutting-edge technology, more flexible learning spaces, plenty of natural lighting, and other innovations designed to promote collaboration and enhance students’ experience.
In Merced, Calif., more than 800 freshmen and sophomores started school Aug. 20 in a brand-new, $98 million campus called El Capitan High School, a nine-building complex featuring more than 100 Wi-Fi access points and desks that encourage teamwork. In Springfield, Ohio, the new $51 million Northwestern Junior/Senior High School opened in late August with improved security, natural lighting, and technology—including Apple TVs and interactive boards in every classroom.
And at Dr. Abraham Cano, a college campus style and other 21st-century elements had students buzzing with excitement as they returned to school.
“Today’s kids are digital learners. They take in the world via the filter of computing devices,” said Eli R. Ochoa, president and chief executive officer of ERO Architects.
Designed by McAllen, Texas-based ERO in conjunction with the Harlingen community, the school supports project-based learning in the five Achieve Texas Career clusters: education and training; health science; STEM; business management and administration; and liberal arts.
Corey Ryan, marketing director for the Harlingen school district, described the new school’s library as an “information literacy center.” The campus, he said, was designed to support a “bring your own device” environment. Students without electronic devices will be able to borrow them from the library, as well traditional bound books on the shelves.
“It’s a 21st-century library,” he said. “It’s going to be a central hub. (The students) will have access to technology and a traditional library. It will be a place for students to come and work together.”And Caty’s impression that the school feels like a college was no accident.
“A school that looks and feels like a college campus is a sure way to enhance college-readiness,” Ochoa said. “At the center of the campus is an intimate courtyard, making it a perfect place for social interacting, group learning, and quiet reflection.”
El Capitan High School, which will serve 2,000 students altogether, has the same kind of feel. The 53-acre campus consists of interconnected buildings that wrap around a large central quadrangle, providing “exceptional supervision” while allowing public after-hours access to areas such as the 1,400-seat gym, 250-seat theater, cafeteria, and library, says designer Paul Bunton of BCA Architects.
Sophomore Bailey Souza, 15, said she liked that the rooms felt spacious, adding that the desk designs were impressive.
“They’re meant to seat two people, so now you can work with partners easier,” Bailey said.
The desks hold two seats, and some rotate to allow the students to face each other. Sam Diele, a business and computer teacher, said those desks can add to collaboration.
“Industry is telling us we need problem solvers—kids that think,” Diele said, adding that thinking is often done in teams. “We’re trying to foster that concept here.”
Each student at the school receives a laptop computer, and El Capitan is also a Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) building, one of a group of new school facilities built with sustainable products and materials such as masonry, steel, and energy-efficient equipment.
At Northwestern High, design elements include shared storage space for some classrooms, interactive whiteboards and Apple TVs in every classroom, wireless connectivity throughout, larger windows, and other state-of-the-art amenities.District officials purposefully sought a sloped-roof and ceiling design that allows for larger windows and more natural light to enter learning spaces.
“Research shows that with more natural day-lighting, academics improves and instruction improves,” said Superintendent Tony Orr.
It’s a departure from the flat roof design commonly seen on older school buildings. And the district looked to use every inch of interior space.
Between the junior and senior high school art rooms, for instance, “we actually have a shared storage room and a shared kiln room, so we’re really trying to take advantage of the space,” Orr said.
Officials also wanted the school’s media center to be welcoming to students. Toward that end, several different types of seating are arranged in what Orr called a “Panera Bread” approach.
“If we can bring kids into a library and make it welcoming, they’re going to read more,” he said.
The whole building, including the cafetorium and gymnasium areas, is wirelessly connected, allowing for flexibility and future expansion in the digital age.
Teachers can save their voices, too, with lapel microphones that broadcast their voices through speakers in their classrooms.
High-definition security cameras are installed throughout the facility, and the district also has taken energy-saving measures that include motion-sensing lights in classrooms and a geothermal heating and cooling system.
“Two hundred and sixty-four (geothermal) wells that went into this building should have a payback to the community in 10 to 12 years,” Orr said. “We’re going to realize so much energy savings over the years, it’s going to be a blessing to the community.”
(c) 2013, the Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas); the Merced Sun-Star; and the Springfield News-Sun (Ohio), with additional reporting from eSchool Media. Distributed by MCT Information Services.
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