Portfolio
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Austin Elementary School Replacement
Austin Elementary School is a replacement campus designed to serve Pre-K through 1st grade students in Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD. Organized into grade-level pods, the school supports collaborative, student-centered learning with flexible Exchange and Think Spaces at the heart of each instructional zone. The high-volume central library anchors the campus with open sightlines and access to a Maker Space and Outdoor Learning courtyard. Specialized learning spaces include Art Lab and STREAM lab with access to an outdoor courtyard, and a performance stage connected to both the music room and cafeteria. Secured outdoor courtyards offer safe environments for playbased learning and sensory exploration. Durable, regional building materials—such as natural Pecos stone, burnished and split-faced CMU, and metal wall panels—are paired with an abundance of natural daylight to create a welcoming, inspiring atmosphere for early childhood learners. Community engagement through VLK | LAUNCH® process informed the campus layout, programmatic priorities, and the integration of a restored historic masonry archway—originally part of the former Pecos Elementary School. Carefully deconstructed and reconstructed by skilled masons, the arch now serves as a symbolic portal at the new Austin Elementary entry vestibule, honoring the legacy of the district’s educational past while embracing its future.
Key Challenges
• Tight site
• Replacement campus on fully operational existing site
• Phased demolition and construction
• Building over existing track area
• Extensive utility coordination
Solution
Honoring the past while embracing the future, this campus for early childhood learners fosters a joyful, student-centered environment filled with wonder, growth, and discovery, featuring age-appropriate spaces thoughtfully scaled to support their small stature and developmental needs. A reclaimed stone arch from the original campus forms the new entry, connecting generations of learners. Three playful outdoor courtyards invite learners to explore, discover, and move freely, featuring soft turf, a covered play area for year round fun, and secure, curiosity-filled spaces designed just for young learners. Inside, each grade-level pod centers around a bright, flexible learning hub where students can interact with peers, building an early sense of belonging. High and wide windows flood the campus with natural light, creating a bright, uplifting environment. Every space is thoughtfully designed with the youngest learners in mind, supporting growing independence, joyful movement, and nurturing a lifelong love of learning.
Preservation
Artifacts from the past offer a tangible connection to history. By preserving the ornate, 1930s facade from the original elementary school and having it serve as the grand entry to the secure school building, the community’s proud history is honored and protected for future generations.
Transformation
The entire site is a story of transformation. The original school campus has been adapted for use as a professional development center while this cheerful, modern campus has risen to take its place as an educational environment for the community’s young learners.