We Are Learners, Too.

There is a common element among the hundreds of educational projects in our portfolio: all are informed by a research-based examination of the curriculum and how architectural design should optimize the full potential of the teaching and learning process within the space.

Communities Get the Schools They Want

Bond Planning

A bond referendum belongs to the community. VLK’s Bond Planning process is systemic and strategic, engaging the community to create a bond plan that meets current and future needs while building consensus among stakeholders. Whether during the planning or election phase, our efforts are fully coordinated, well thought out, and proactive. Our process is your district’s roadmap to victory.

Uniting Personality With Purpose

Branding Services

VLK recognizes that your brand identity differentiates you from your competition. Whether new or existing, your facility should represent who you are and what sets you apart from the rest. VLK has extensive experience helping clients establish, define, and communicate their brand, exploring the ways it can be expressed throughout facilities. Through a consensus-building process, your values and strengths are clarified and interpreted creatively to establish new brand assets such as colors, logos, iconography, and messaging that ultimately are conveyed throughout the physical space.

Curriculum Shapes Space

Curation Process

We only know what we know. The VLKcuration process gives us a deep understanding of a district’s educational goals, philosophy and pedagogical practices - including student learning styles - to ensure our designs are tailored to the unique culture of our clients.

In addition to its inviting appeal, the state-of-the-art design of Pope Elementary School accommodates the modern learning environment that Cypress-Fairbanks ISD offers. The school’s classrooms, library, reading nooks, multi-purpose observation deck and many flexible learning spaces were all designed with an intentional focus on hands-on education that will allow our 21st-century learners to thrive.”
Dr. Mark Henry Superintendent, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

It was exciting to work on a project in which the final product was everything we truly needed to provide the best learning environment we could. Adams Elementary School is a great example of working with our design professionals to ensure our most critical facility needs are considered, discussed and determined prior to the beginning of design."
Jennifer DuPlessis Director of Maintenance and Operations, Arlington ISD

Azle ISD has enjoyed a long-term, positive relationship with the folks at VLK Architects. Years ago, VLK began this planning process by facilitating a long-range facility plan for Azle ISD by involving large groups of citizens and community members. Once completed, these state-of-the-art facilities will be a great addition to the high school facility.”
Dr. Ray Lea Superintendent (Ret.), Azle ISD

Stakeholder Engagement

Design Charrette

VLKlive is at the forefront of the current trend in the charrette design process, utilizing the voice of our clients' stakeholders to develop the conceptual framework of next generation learning environments.

Technical Guidance

User Manuals

Next generation learning environments feature multiple spaces and tools to educate today’s learners. To make sure our clients get the most out of these environments, we have developed user manuals that teach the teachers how to best utilize their spaces.

At The Forefront

Learning Environment Research

Our learning environment design aligns with national and regional educational practices through the study of how teachers teach and students learn. Exploring the impact of architectural design on learning, it is our hope that this research will add to the already present literature about educational facilities and will further advance the practice of school design.

Featured Projects