Gloria Hicks Elementary School

Corpus Christi, Texas

Firm

Gignac & Associates, LLP

Client

Corpus Christi Independent School District

Area

77,192 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$11,900,000

Completion Date

09/2010

When charged with replacing aging, undersized elementary schools in the heart of Corpus Christi, Texas, Corpus Christi Independent School District chose to utilize a prototype design that previously has been implemented effectively in the district.

Gloria Hicks Elementary, named for a well-known local supporter of education, was the result and combined the student population of two smaller elementary schools. The school is designed to provide complete education facilities for pre-K through fifth-grade students and also serves as a meeting place for the community.

With a variety of specialized classrooms and labs, the facility also contains a library, administration area, food-service spaces and support areas. With about 77,000 square feet, Gloria Hicks Elementary can accommodate about 800 students.

The design has been recognized as environmentally friendly and utilizes energy-efficient design features. A serpentine corridor, which is the main circulation artery, is lined with continuous clerestory windows to introduce natural light into the building. Other tributary hallways use more traditional skylights for daylighting.

The site plan provides convenient, covered dropoff areas for parents and buses. The plan also encourages bicycles as a means of transportation by including bicycle storage racks, and wide sidewalks and paths.

A grand entrance with a clear canopy provides building occupants with a strong sense of entry. And although it may be a prototype design, custom masonry and tilework make Gloria Hicks stand out as a unique place to learn.