The Grammar School at the Geneva School of Boerne was the third building constructed as part of the implementation of the 30-acre master plan Garza Architects created for the campus.
For this project, Geneva commissioned us to replace the mix of aging and temporary facilities that were serving as the Grammar School, some of which had been in use since the school’s inception. The new Grammar School would need to serve a dramatically expanded student population and also accommodate projected future growth.
Serving students in kindergarten through 5th grade, the facility includes classrooms, a science room, and an art and music building. There are also multi-use collaborative labs between classroom wings that can be used for instruction, independent study, and small assemblies.
The Grammar School provides a flexible, technology-enabled environment with ample space for collaborative learning.
Each classroom is equipped with technology features that include advanced computer and audio-visual capabilities. The classroom layout provides direct access to the collaborative labs and surrounding outdoor spaces, as well as offering abundant natural light.
The buildings’ location along the main student drop-off drive increases safety and security during arrival and dismissal periods. We reinforced this sense of safety by fanning the buildings out in a radial fashion to allow for clear views between buildings from both the drive and the play fields at the rear of the school.
The classroom buildings are connected to each other and to support functions through covered walkways. These walkways form a boardwalk that students were familiar with from their previous temporary facilities. The boardwalks also encourage socialization and collaboration between students as they congregate in these areas.
The building exteriors reflect the Texas Hill Country vernacular style, with some refinement in the implementation of the materials. The orientation of the Art and Music building gives another nod to regional design. It is sited to maximize northern light while minimizing direct sun exposure.
We designed or specified all of the building’s materials and systems to reflect sustainability best practices in the areas of integration and innovation, indoor environmental quality, energy, water, site elements, and materials and waste management. This included sourcing all stone materials from local quarries and fabricators.
