Portfolio
Allen ISD STEAM Center
The center offers specialized spaces such as engineering and robotics labs, computer labs, computer maintenance instructional programs, science and physics labs, math classrooms, and studios for the architecture and interior design programs. Collaboration spaces, common areas, and huddle rooms are situated throughout the facility to provide a range of places for groups to collaborate on projects.
Throughout the center, visibility and transparency across disciplines create an open co-creative atmosphere that provides younger students a window to the advanced upper classes. The design integrates a rich outdoor setting, providing learning trails and ecological zones for exploration.
Awards
Innovation Award
Caudill Award, Stars of Distinction: Community, Design, Planning, Sustainability, Value and School Transformation
Merit Award
Texas Build Texas Proud Award
The district wanted to tour other STEAM centers to see how they had addressed the design of this facility type. A review of facilities within Texas resulted in the realization that none of these were of the quality Allen ISD sought for their facility from the standpoint of programs or design. The design team and district representatives then researched and benchmarked comparable STEM facilities around the country. Tours of STEM Academies and Microsoft in the Seattle area along with DFW museums and arboretums contributed to consideration of the potential learning opportunities, curricular approaches, and specialized learning environments realized in
the design.
Emerging from a community charrette, the design features an interlocking two-story design where the K-8 learning studios overlook the high school classes. Natural daylighting is provided throughout the building in all spaces.
The interlocking design features a tiered learning environment tied to exchange collaboration spaces providing functional scalable space for student presentations, industry presentations, career and college fairs, and community events.
The building is certainly not the only place where learning occurs on this campus–the rich site provides trails, a wetland zone, and a natural creek, and all of these have become daily learning environments.
— John Wills | Project ManagerOne of the most valuable aspects of the design process was the commitment to embrace opportunities for inspiration while creating cohesion in aligning the purpose for learning with the structural design of the building.”
