The Northside Independent School District commissioned Garza Architects to develop and implement an expansion and renovation plan for San Antonio’s Pat Neff Middle School. Originally built in 1961, Pat Neff is the district’s oldest middle school, and it was in need of a major modernization to address problems that had developed over years of ad hoc additions.
The campus was straining under the load of 1,200 students and lacked space for many critical functions. It also needed improved spatial adjacencies to improve efficiency and major modifications to meet modern expectations for student safety and security.
Adding to the challenges of the project was the need to keep the school open during the renovation and expansion process. This required a comprehensive plan for demolition and construction phasing, as well as rigorous project management to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors throughout the project.
At Pat Neff Middle School, we addressed some major facilities challenges by thoughtfully integrating a mix of new, renovated, and existing spaces.
We responded to the project’s complex challenges with a thoughtful approach that addressed the most critical needs of the school while also creating a stronger identity and sense of place for the campus.
We created a plan that improved efficiency and safety by replacing the existing administration building with new buildings connected to the renovated cafeteria. A clean, modern design incorporates elements of the existing buildings to maintain a cohesive look across the campus.
A new security lobby improves safety and security by providing for centralized ingress and egress control. At the same time, this lobby and the new covered exterior walkways also create a new architectural focal point and identifying feature for the campus.
The result is a transformed campus that addresses a growing population’s needs with a learning environment that encourages student achievement and meets the latest standards for safety, security, and efficiency.
For more information about our work at Pat Neff Middle School, visit our case study for the project.
