The Geneva School of Boerne’s Rhetoric School Building is planned as part of the implementation of the 30-acre master plan Garza Architects created for the Geneva campus.
For this project, Geneva commissioned us to replace the mix of aging and temporary facilities that had served the school’s high school students since the opening of the campus. We designed the new building to meet the needs of a dramatically expanded student population and accommodate projected future growth.
The building includes classroom spaces for general studies, art, science, math, and computer science, as well as administrative functions. A two-story atrium lobby connects the main circulation stair to the upper level and creates a sense of arrival when entering the building.
The Rhetoric School Building will serve the needs of a growing group of high-school-age students.
Instructional spaces are equipped with technology features that include advanced computer and audio-visual capabilities. The building layout gives each classroom views of the outdoors and allows for significant natural light inside.
The building’s exterior reflects the Texas Hill Country vernacular style, with some refinement in the implementation of the materials. The building also incorporates sun-shading devices and recessed walls along western exposures to minimize the heating impact of direct sun exposure while still allowing for interior daylighting.
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.
