Designing a concept for a facility that elevates outdoor learning, student exploration, and wellness

Roark Early Education Center

Located in Willis, Texas, Roark Early Education Center is a project stemming from a 2020 Bond Election. The center will replace their existing facility offsite and is designed to promote academic success. Our team worked with the district’s key stakeholders and end users during the visioning, or conceptual process, to generate concepts and a program to frame their thoughts.

The innovative concept revolves around a child’s experience of traveling from their home to the school—school corridors represent roadways, shared spaces represent large gathering parks, flex areas represent neighborhood spark parks, and classrooms represent their home or a safe place. Students will thrive with outdoor learning, student exploration, and student wellness. The facility uses outdoor lighting, sensory learning, and biophilic—the human tendency to relate to nature—concepts in the interior design. Way finding and instilling a sense of place was key for the district, so the floor plan and the classroom pods are easy to navigate. The interior mimics a city with common spaces serving as stylized neighborhood parks.

Designed for 400 students, the facility has a gym, full kitchen, dining, and outdoor play areas.