Final design concepts for Milby High School, which will be rebuilt into a 21st century learning environment, are featured in a new HISD video highlighting the planning of the campus.
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The school’s community worked together to create a design that will incorporate the historical campus facade portion of the 1926 building to connect to a new building. Milby is among 40 HISD schools being renovated or rebuilt with funds from the $1.89 billion bond program. The project could take at least two years to build.
“This is going to be a situation where kids are going to come in and see equipment and technology that mimics the real world,” said Milby High School Principal Roy de la Garza.
The redesign of the campus, which will accommodate 1,800-2,000 students, will be equipped with modern facilities for the manufacturing and engineering programs. The first level will include administrative offices, a library, an auditorium with a black box and a student union that opens up to a large dining commons area where students can meet for lunch or study in groups. A large courtyard behind the dining area will allow students to easily go outside for lunch, club meetings and gather before and after school.
“Being able to repurpose the space in a new way that all the students can take advantage of it, I think we’re really excited about it,” said architect Nicola Springer of Kirksey Architecture.
The video also highlights updates to preliminary designs and concepts for the new campus, including learning spaces for science and engineering labs, welding, performing and visual arts, culinary arts complete with a student-run café, and a print shop in the career technical education area to provide students with real job experience.
“They’ve had open arms welcoming my opinions and everything, so it’s exciting to me to have a voice and to feel like I’m a part of this new Milby,” said theater teacher Alicia Green.