LEARNING BY DESIGN magazine - Hal Peterson Middle School

Site plan. The main entry faces northeast, while the back curves around athletic fields.
First Floor. Academics form two wings that hinge at the entrance / administration suite.
Second Floor. CTE and STEM focused classrooms are on the first floor while Humanities is located on the second floor.
Main Entry facing northeast. Masonry, stone, natural hues and architectural elements reflect a regionally popular aesthetic.
Glazing, overhangs and covered patios along the north elevation create consistent, non-direct and low glare natural light.
A teacher workroom overlooks the commons. Next to it, a student-run coffee shop features a "storefront" into the space.
The media center doors on the second floor can open fully to engage with the commons. The second floor platform and learning stair offer viewing space for performances.
Media Center is multipurpose with access to the outdoor patio, a makerspace and variety in seating.
Glass exterior walls of the media center are protected by a large overhang and outdoor learning patio that overlooks the Hill Country.
The school integrates traditional, teacher-owned classrooms with non-traditional, flexible classroom spaces.
Flexible classrooms are identified by movable walls with the capacity for team teaching.
Grant Van Hoose
Grant Van Hoose
Grant Van Hoose

PROJECT NARRARTIVE

One of the goals established early was the desire for the building to be adaptable to current and future community needs. Each space enhances a range of educational delivery styles and provides greater ownership for users to employ the type of space that works best for their needs.

Academic spaces are arranged into houses for CTE, STEM and Humanities. The houses blend traditional, teacher-owned classrooms with non-traditional, flexible classrooms that have movable walls. Traditional classrooms are aligned along the perimeter of these more adaptable spaces. Transparency, writable surfaces, flexible furniture and access to collaboration zones form a common thread.

The commons serves as the core of the school. A stage connects the commons to the fine arts wing and can be viewed from the learning stair which offers tiered seating for performances. The second floor of the commons leads into the media center; a movable wall along the front creates an open, connected function or a more quiet purpose.

The aesthetic respects the heritage of the community and incorporates stone and masonry materials. A second floor patio offers sweeping views of the Texas Hill Country and serves as a gathering space for learning, events and as an art lab.

Hal Peterson Middle School

Description

Owner
Kerrville ISD
Kerrville, TX

Architecture Firm
Huckabee
Fort Worth,Texas
huckabee-inc.com

Photography By:
Grant Van Hoose

Hal Peterson Middle School

Category

Description