Austin Area Debuts New Elementary School

The Luling Independent School District in Luling, Texas—part of the Austin metropolitan area—recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility. Shanklin Elementary School came as a result of a bond program passed by voters in May 2019 to upgrade and replace five district facilities in poor condition. The two-story facility cost $23.6 million and measures in at 86,000 square feet.

“The new Shanklin Elementary continues the tradition of excellence so many generations of Luling ISD students have experienced,” said Erin Warren, Luling ISD Superintendent. “The district is excited to welcome our community to see firsthand the extraordinary instructional opportunities in place for future generations of students.”

Shanklin Elementary School
Photo courtesy of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN)

The new facility will replace two existing schools, Luling Primary and Leonard Shanklin Elementary Schools, and consolidate their students, faculty and staff into a single campus. The move will allow the district to divert maintenance and operations funds for Luling Primary School to other purposes.

Amenities in the new school include 42 new classrooms, two playgrounds, a gymnasium, a media center, a cafeteria and kitchen, and an administrative suite, according to a news release. It has also integrated a variety of life-safety and security enhancement measures to keep students safe.

“The new elementary school will meet Luling ISD’s needs for the next 50 years and provide students the infrastructure needed to succeed in the 21st century,” said JP Grom, AIA, vice president of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), which managed the bond program. “In addition to providing a safe environment for students, the facility will also be used by the community for various purposes.”

The school district partnered with Claycomb Associates, Architects for design and Weaver & Jacobs Constructors, Inc. for construction.

The Luling 2019 bond program totaled $31.9 million, and it also included renovations at Gilbert Gerdes Junior High School and converting an existing elementary school into a staff and visitor parking lot.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Image courtesy of MiEN Company

    6 Ways to Pull Off a Major District Construction Project

    Designing and building a large-scale project on a K–12 campus is a monumental undertaking that requires the right blend of ideas, funding, design and execution to get it right. The process also relies on multiple partners, each of which has to handle its respective aspect of the project while also keeping the district’s broader mission and goals in mind.

  • Greenheck Launches Optics Sensors for Kitchen Hoods

    Greenheck recently announced the launch of factory-installed optics sensors as an enhanced option for its kitchen ventilation hoods, according to a news release.

  • Creating a First and Lasting Impression with Thoughtful, Sustainable Design

    Clemson University’s Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center serves as the new front door to campus, anchoring the Tiger experience through each step in the student journey.

  • University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

    The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

Digital Edition