Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas Debuts New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/10/22

The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) in Fort Bend County, Texas, about 40 miles west of Houston, celebrated the start of 2022 with the opening of a new elementary school. Fletcher Morgan Jr. Elementary School finished construction in December 2021 and now plays home to about 750 students in grades PreK–5.

According to a news release, Morgan Elementary is the district’s 29th elementary school and the fourth to be designed by VLK Architects. VLK held meetings with school leaders to design a space that would increase engagement among the curriculum, students, teachers and parents.

“VLK Architects has done a phenomenal job designing our new campus, Morgan Elementary,” said Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, Lamar CISD Superintendent. “It truly is a beautiful campus equipped with everything that our scholars need to have an exciting and impactful learning environment. We are grateful for this new addition to our Lamar CISD community.”

The new facility was proposed as part of the 2017 bond election. It features learning areas organized into pods containing 6–8 classrooms, restrooms, storage space, collaboration space and outdoor areas. The design also includes modular furniture, media stations and activity walls to ensure a dynamic, active learning environment. Collaborative spaces like music and art rooms are located next to the gym and cafeteria to reduce ambient noise throughout the building. The full facility covers about 48,400 square feet.

“It’s an honor to be able to work with Lamar CISD in opening another elementary school that serves the students, faculty, and staff in this fast-growing community,” said Todd J. Lien, AIA, Managing Partner of VLK Architects.

The total cost of the project came in at $24 million, funded as part of the bond. The district partnered with VLK Architects for design and Drymalla Construction as the general contractor.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • ClassVR headsets

    Avantis Education Revamps Hardware for ClassVR Solution

    Avantis Education recently announced the launch of two new headsets for its flagship educational VR/AR solution, ClassVR. According to a news release, the Xcelerate and Xplorer headsets expand the company’s offerings into higher education while continuing to meet the evolving needs of K–12 users.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

Digital Edition