Ero Architects

TA Brown Elementary School Modernization

Austin ISD
  • Client

    Austin ISD

  • Budget

    $22,600,000

  • City

    Austin

  • Sq. Ft.

    75,166

Description

Austin Independent School District opened T.A. Brown Elementary School in January of 2020 to glowing reviews by the community and the industry after it was shuttered in November of 2016 for structural deficiency. In its place is a 21st century, state-of-the-art, STEAM learning facility that accommodates 522 students and accounts for future growth. The new amenities are examples of a “modernized” school with spaces that allow for more hands-on learning assignments, group discussions and presentations, rather than traditional-style lectures.

TA Brown is one of AISD’s first 2017 Bond program projects completed due to a design-build delivery method. Rogers-O’Brien Construction and ERO Architects collaborated to bring the District's and neighborhood’s visions for environmental stewardship and sustainability to life. The new T.A. Brown doesn't disappoint. Design began in March 2018, with construction beginning in November 2018.

The modernized campus is 75,766 square feet in area on a 7.2 acre tree-lined lot. The interior is a set of flexible education environments for collaborative, interdisciplinary, individual-centered and project-based learning. A trilogy of design metaphors provide educational inspiration. A two-story triangular building represents power and direction and houses the learning den of academic and maker spaces. The circle part of the building engenders harmony and wholeness for community and collaboration. The second story of the circle is a glass-enclosed treehouse and the first floor is meeting spaces. The rectangular building represents reliability and stability. It is a colony for student gathering whether for dining, playing or performing.

The Green Building Award-winning school has been designated LEED Gold and Austin Energy Two-Star goals. It has plenty of natural lighting, tactile learning and outdoor playscapes and scenery. With outdoor learning opportunities, the students go and plant things, explore insects and study geometric shapes and experiment with water harvesting.

ERO’s creative design gave T.A. Brown ways to become an asset to the community, as well as bring community resources into the school. The flexible learning environments, modern, moveable furniture, numerous views of the outdoors and sustainable systems throughout ensure this school will positively impact the lives of the students, teachers, faculty, and community.

The school was delivered on-time in January 2020, to allow for students to begin the spring semester in their new home.


Next Project

Seguin High School Modernization and Replacement

Seguin ISD

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