By Eric Althoff
DALLAS鈥擜rchitectural design firm KAI Enterprises has worked with general contractor Ratcliff Constructors on a replacement elementary school at the site of the former H.S. Thompson Learning Center. The new school, dubbed H.S. Thompson Elementary School, adds a contemporary environment to the Dallas Independent School District.
The $30 million school鈥檚 focus will be on the so-called STEAM subjects and will employ challenged-based educational techniques aimed at preparing students for practical experiences both in and beyond the classroom. The new H.S. Thompson facility encompasses 73,000 square feet of educational space for grades K-5. Seven science classrooms are included, as are various special educational rooms, outside play areas, arts classrooms and a new library and media center.
A multipurpose room and storage areas were also part of the architectural plan laid out by KAI. H.S. Thompson鈥檚 鈥渁ctive鈥� spaces were designed such that they can be utilized during the day for educational purposes and are accessible for community use in the afterschool hours. A key part of this design aesthetic was the 鈥渃afetorium,鈥� a combination dining commons and performance space.
KAI鈥檚 initial site work entailed master planning of the site as well as envisioning where a future middle school expansion can later be added. Then came the design of H.S. Thompson itself, which called for situating the library directly above the secured primary entry of the school. The double-height entryway allows for stunning views of Dallas鈥檚 downtown and the nearby Fair Park鈥攁nd from the outside, the community can look back at H.S. Thompson as a paragon of a modern educational setting.
H.S. Thompson Elementary School is located at 5700 Bexar St., the exact same site as the demolished earlier school. The primary facade faces out onto Bexar Street, and the main ingress along that thoroughfare is a secured entryway situated prior to the administrative reception area.
鈥淥ur team sought to develop an environment for academic excellence by providing the students, staff and community with a 21st Century learning environment with innovative learning spaces that inspire the students and surrounding community,鈥� Darren L. James, president of KAI Enterprises, said in a recent statement about the project. 鈥淲e designed collaborative learning spaces distributed throughout the building, allowing the entire facility to become an active learning laboratory.鈥�
KAI Enterprises, which was founded in 1980, works around the country in the design-build sector and is a certified minority-owned business. Under its corporate umbrella, the company entails subdivisions including KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and KAI 360 Construction Services. Among the firm鈥檚 other school-related construction projects in the Dallas area are the Billy Earl Dade Middle School, also for the Dallas Independent School District.