“Exhibiting Opportunity” is the theme as students experience industry for their chosen future careers. The school is organized into 18 academies which have large expanses of glass between the open collaboration spaces putting education on display. This idea of showcasing education in the various academies is intended to foster mutual enrichment between the different programs and expose students to careers they may have never considered. Each academy has a visual connection to “Main Street” which serves as the collaboration area for the students. Simply walking down Main Street, observers, as well as students, will be exposed to active learning environments, learning how to do a vehicle wheel alignment, instruction on installing HVAC equipment in a mock residential house, a functioning courtroom with students exploring the judicial and legal branches of government, students learning how to incorporate chemistry to style hair and provide customer service, or the operation of a live student-led TV broadcast studio.
Programming sessions were held to develop the CTE programs to fit the employment needs of the community. Once the CTE programs were determined, industry specialists were consulted to provide input on not only the courses offered, but also the type of equipment to be used by the students.
Cost-efficient tilt-wall construction was used for the exterior of the shop areas. The design is organized along a large rectangular form, which houses the so called “dirty, smelly, loud” programs like Automotive Technology, Welding, Manufacturing, and Construction. The rectangular form is in juxtaposition to a large, sweeping, curved glass form which houses classroom and computer based programs, such as Business, Photography and Health Science.
Natural light is utilized in every learning space and the building orientation captures north light. This drastically reduces the dependence on supplemental lighting. On the south side, windows are protected by angled fins blocking direct sunlight. Roof and parking lot drainage is diverted through bio-swales to clean and filter the water through natural vegetation prior to entering the storm sewer system.
“We know that education is the great equalizer and that in order to break cycles of poverty, and break cycles of social injustice, and break cycles of voter apathy, you name it, it’s through a quality education. And in Arlington, not only are we going to provide a quality education, we are going to provide an outstanding education in facilities like our Career Tech Center.”
Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent of Schools, Arlington ISD