Construction is complete for new green “Texas-Themed” middle school in Houston
SHW Group designed the 200,000-square-foot Michael R. Null Middle School which will accommodate more than 1,000 students
HOUSTON, October 14, 2009 - The new 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Michael R. Null Middle School has officially opened in time for the 2009-2010 academic school year. The three-level, “green” school is the second middle school in the Sheldon Independent School District, one of the fastest-growing school districts in Harris County and the greater-Houston area. SHW Group’s Houston studio, one of the world’s largest educational architecture and design firms, served as the project’s architect. Houston-based Dyad Construction served as the project’s general contractor.
Located on a 100-acre site at 12117 Garrett Road in Houston, SHW’s design of the modern “Texas-themed” middle school embodies specialized solutions to both issues of size and style. Completed in August 2009, the school addresses the district’s steadily growing population and was designed to accommodate more than 1,000 students. In addition, its cafeteria, gym, library, media center and other facilities are large enough to accommodate an additional 500 students when required. This adaptable design will permit the middle school to expand as its student body grows, saving the district the cost of excessive building now and reducing the need for an entirely new school later.
“Sheldon I.S.D. has a vision that students learn in smaller groups; therefore the student capacity is divided into two learning houses,” said Chris Hinton, studio coordinator and project manager for SHW Group. “Each house is divided into three levels separating sixth, seventh and eighth grades providing for a comfortable and secure environment that encourages students to get to know their immediate faculty and inspire learning and confidence as the student progresses in age.”
Sheldon ISD also wanted a building that honored Texas history and style. Using traditional inspiration and modern design, the school has a uniquely personalized feel. Believing that “instruction should drive the construction,” SHW’s design for the school was based on an old Texas town square where storefronts flanked a central gathering space — either a courtyard or gazebo — and an adjacent railroad that delivered people and supplies to each town. The plan has two “houses” or communities located to the east and the west of a central courtyard representing the adjacent storefronts, while the “gazebo” or LGI (Large Group Instruction) located in the courtyard is attached to the main building for larger meetings. The railroad is represented by an aluminum canopy cutting through the courtyard that connects the north and south areas of the building. Where a railroad typically travels through a small town, SHW placed this main walkway so that the common spaces and assembly areas could be reached with ease.
“Michael R. Null Middle School is as ‘modern Texas’ as you can get. From its range of tans and browns representing the Texas soils and longhorns to its burnt orange brick color and the Texas yellow sunset that beams down the middle of the cafeteria ceiling, this school does a stunning job of representing the Lone Star State,” added Hinton.
Designed with sustainable principles in mind, Null Middle School incorporates several green features, including daylighting, high-quality acoustics and technology, and low-emitting materials, all of which further promotes a productive learning environment. The district’s desire to connect students with nature via exterior views worked well with the school’s daylighting strategy, as multiple classrooms and other learning spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows that are oriented to offer students views of the outdoors, as well as receive maximum daylighting. This daylighting will also result in a reduction of energy consumption and costs by greater reliance on natural light and also improved student performance. In addition, large flexible open spaces — such as a raised platform in the central courtyard that is used for multiple purposes such as outdoor teaching and musical performances — were designed to promote collaboration and gathering and also serve as social learning spaces.
Linoleum flooring was also used throughout the school, which is created from natural raw materials, contains virtually no trace of toxic materials, and is naturally beneficial to air quality. With linoleum and ceramic tile flooring used throughout the building, the new middle school is a no-wax building helping with maintenance costs. In addition, masonry, ceramic tile, and exposed wood decking all add to the warmth, sustainability and appeal of the facility.
Sheldon I.S.D students, staff and faculty could not be more thrilled with the building and believe that all aspects of sustainability, design and educational appropriateness have been achieved and that the design of the building will help students be educated through smaller instructional communities and through great design.
For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.
# # #
Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191
Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424
