Add as a preferred source on Google

Nonprofit Releases Renderings for New Uvalde Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/24/23

Local news reports that the nonprofit organization planning a new elementary school for Uvalde, Texas, recently released renderings of the new facility. Robb Elementary School, the site of the school shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead in May 2022, is scheduled for demolition, according to local leaders. The replacement facility is scheduled for completion in 2024 and will have a capacity of 800 students, according to KENS. The new facility will measure in at about 120,000 square feet, about twice the size of the existing campus.

“We haven’t had a new school in Uvalde since 1985,” said Uvalde Precinct 4 Judge Lalo Diaz. “So whatever we are going to give them is state-of-the-art.” Local news reports that Diaz is the co-chair of a committee comprised of educators, parents, and first responders who are collaborating with architects on the new school. Diaz also served as the coroner on the day of the mass shooting.

The new school’s design places a heavy emphasis on security. The executive director of the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, Tim Miller, described security features and additions upon the design’s release. They include fencing around outdoor play areas, keyless entry, 9-foot privacy gates, a secure area for visitors near the building’s entrance, and a new road to provide first responders with quicker access to the school.

Other features include an air-conditioned gymnasium, two playgrounds, and an outdoor courtyard.

“We have had conversations about bullet-resistant film, especially on the windows that serve as the perimeter,” said Natalie Arias, co-chair on the advisory committee and the academic dean at Uvalde High School.

Diaz also revealed that the new school would pay tribute to the 21 victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary, although the specifics of the design are still in development. Local news reports that a separate committee will soon meet to come up with the new school’s name, and the foundation will host another meeting with completed schematics on March 20.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • North Carolina District Completes New Elementary School

    The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in Holly Springs, N.C., recently announced that construction on a new elementary school has finished, according to a news release. Rex Road Elementary School measures in at 133,000 square feet and is the fifteenth school that general contractor Balfour Beatty has completed for the district.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

Digital Edition