Austin ISD Norman-Sims Elementary School
Austin, Texas
Norman-Sims Elementary represents the union of two schools in the historically African American community of East Austin. Facing rapid gentrification, declining enrollment, and active competition with charter schools, the original Norman Elementary was modernized to showcase and celebrate the transformation of the educational environment with hopes of revitalizing the neighborhood. A Campus Advisory Team (CAT)—formed by a visionary new principal and including teachers from both schools, district staff, community members, and parents—spent six months in an inclusive and interactive design process to re-imagine the new campus. The Norman-Sims CAT embraced concepts around STEAM, (Science, Technology, Engineering Arts, and Math) as well as health and wellbeing, social and emotional and student-centered learning, parent and community integration, interaction, and investment.
Schools are the foundation of communities and the CAT recognized that this modernized building must be a catalyst for re-energizing and revitalizing the neighborhood. The building, which had to create a new first impression for the community, had to both showcase and put STEAM on display while being sensitive to stresses and traumas of its vulnerable student population.
The creation of the Discovery Pavilion, the new “billboard” for the modernized school, has sparked the engine of invention and innovation on campus. A new two-story building addition is anchored at the north and south by learning neighborhoods in renovated existing spaces; the third learning neighborhood is on the second floor of the Discovery Pavilion. The ground floor houses a shared maker space, media center, and art and music rooms. A public community space is accessible off the main entry vestibule and opens up into the shared collaboration area of the Discovery Pavilion. The main servery and kitchen also open into the shared collaboration area, and the fitness space and gym opens to the Discovery Pavilion and Discovery Porch.
Additional Information
Capacity
696
Cost per Sq Ft
$328.00
Featured in
2021 Architectural Portfolio
Interior category
Pre-K/Early Childhood Education
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