Shadydale Elementary School

Houston, Texas

Firm

Archi*Technics/3, Inc.

Client

North Forest Independent School District

Area

102,400 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$9,165,386

Completion Date

08/2000

To keep different age groups separate, the design of Shadydale Elementary School situates the media center and computer lab as the focal point and heart of the school; places the kindergarten through second graders on the east wing, and the third and fourth graders on the west wing. Each grade level has its own academic pod house with a central common area. The school has a community room for PTO meetings or classes for parents whose children attend the school. Each pod has a teachers’ workroom and separate restrooms for students and teachers.
Design features include a playground with an alphabet trail and numbers court, an indoor play area for kindergartners to use during bad weather; and scaled-down ceilings in the cafeteria and multipurpose room to provide a sense of belonging.
Individual VAV units provide each classroom with better control and improved thermal comfort.