Firm of Record: SHW Group, LLP
location
Spring, TX
Area of building
273,178 sf
completion date
Winter, 2006
Project information
Wunsche Academy is not only internationally recognized, but as Lead Designer Bill Wadley says “In my 50 years designing schools, Wunsche is the closest I’ve ever gotten to truly turning a concept into reality.” From the start there were countless challenges and opportunities in creating a new type of learning environment that includes physical transparency, enhanced teacher/student interaction, cross discipline curriculum interface, corporate and professional partnering and even the fact that students must apply for acceptance and are pooled from all the different high schools in the district.
A quick stroll down Main Street reveals a look and feel more like a shopping mall; it’s easy to see why students want to be here. There’s a museum, credit union, school store, computer repair shop, mock-restaurant and coffee shops. The school is organized into three career academies: 1) legal, business and child studies 2) technology and engineering 3) science, medicine and biology. Students get the chance to test drive and train for the types of jobs that they may one day consider for their career with hands-on, technology-enriched training and learning environments that are outfitted as real dentist offices, culinary arts kitchens, crime labs, courtroom, TV studio, research and engineering labs, paramedic and nursing facilities, veterinary office, and even a working child development program/pre-school. All classes are glass-encased so other students can observe what’s going on inside. “This makes learning exciting,” says Debi Koch, Wunsche principal. “Students get to show off their work, and other students are motivated by what they see. It fosters a sense of respect among our students and adds to the feel of collaboration and openness.
Each academy integrates its subjects into core curriculum classes through reading, lectures and projects so students are highly focused, engaged and motivated.” Says Bill, “Educators can see how big a role the design of a school plays in successful learning. It provides a catalyst for learning and exploration.”
Recognition
2008 School Planning & Management Education Design Showcase
--National Grand Prize – K-12 High School Building/Campus Design
2007 TASA/TASB Exhibition of School Architecture - Caudill Award Winner
--Best in Texas - Design, Process Planning, Educ. Appropriate, Value, Innovation
2007 CEFPI Impact on Learning Awards – James D. MacConnell Award Winner
--Best in the World - International Educational Facility
Attribution of Credit
Firm of Record: SHW Group, LLP
Lead Designer: Bill Wadley, AIA
Lead Programmer: Frank Kelley, AIA
Project Manager: Stuart Campbell, AIA
Project Architect: J. Matthew Brown, AIA, REFP
Roles/Phases Provided By J. Matthew Brown, AIA, REFP
Client/Project Manager
Visioning/Programming
Schematics/Design Development
Construction Documents Oversight
Bidding and Negotiations
Permitting and Construction Administration
