Perspectives

Practice Area: Education
Research

Collaboration Spaces and Middle School Students’ Engagement in Learning

Dear Reader, Our commitment at VLK to studying design and its impact on the end user is unwavering. I am pleased to share our sixth study, focused on seventh and eighth grade students’ perceptions regarding the renovated middle school where they attend. In this research, we deliberately focused on open collaboration spaces, as we wanted […]
News

New Eagle Mountain High School Opens for First Day of School

On August 12, 2024, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD (EMS ISD) welcomed students for the first day of school at the new Eagle Mountain High School (EMHS). It is the district’s fourth comprehensive high school and, when filled, has capacity for 2,400 students. Construction was made possible by the voter-approved bond proposal passed in 2017. Rather than […]
News

VLK Architects Joins Texas Woman’s University in the Bezos Academy Denton Groundbreaking Event

(Denton, Texas) – Last Thursday, April 25, 2024, VLK Architects joined Texas Woman’s University and The City of Denton for the groundbreaking of Bezos Academy Denton, a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool built to accommodate the children of TWU student-parents and Denton families with year-round, full-day programming. It is a partnership between TWU, Bezos Academy, a non-profit organization […]
Leadership, News

VLK Architects Adds Longtime Educators to the VLK | EDGE® Team

VLK Architects proudly announces the addition of two highly respected educators to its Educational Planning team, known as VLK | EDGE®. Kevin Worthy and Dr. Rick Westfall join VLK as Educational Planners and Senior Associates after careers in public education, bringing to the firm substantial experience as long-time leaders in Texas public school districts. Both […]
Research

Social Emotional Learning Practices and Learning Spaces

Recently, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a hot topic in communities across Texas. For us educators, we know SEL as best practices that promote the soft skills that contribute to well-rounded students and productive citizens. For others, it has become a political platform. Because the process is crucial to teaching and learning, we […]
News

VLK Architects Celebrates Topping Out on their Seventh Project with Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD

(Pecos, Texas) – On Tuesday, April 25, VLK Architects joined Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD for the topping out of the new Agricultural Sciences Complex. PBTISD students, staff, and community members gathered for the ceremony while Pecos High School FFA students signed their names on the final steel beam. “The PBTISD Agricultural Science Complex will support many students […]
News

VLK Architects Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Keller ISD’s New Central High School Indoor Facility

VLK Architects joined Keller ISD to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Central High School Indoor Extra-Curricular Program Facility. The ceremony included Central High School students from various extra-curricular programs along with district staff, community members, and the design and construction teams. This indoor facility was designed to support all outdoor extra-curricular program practice needs […]
Blog

How to Design a Fantastic High School Science Lab for Inquiry-Based Learning Within TEA Design Requirements

LAUREN BROWN | PRINCIPAL “Scientific inquiry is the planned and deliberate investigation of the natural world. Scientific methods of investigation can be experimental, descriptive, or comparative.” [1] With 40% of instructional time dedicated to scientific investigation, having sufficient floor space for students to explore safely is critical. Equipment and technology work hand-in-hand in the investigative […]