Category Archives: District VII – Bridget Wade

Wilson Montessori opens doors to new building addition

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When Wilson Montessori students came back from spring break on Monday, they returned to a new three-story building addition specifically designed to evoke a sense of nature and the environment.

Soft earth tones color the walls and floors, different types of tiles provide a sense of texture and expansive windows help connect students to the outdoors.

“Montessori goes back to the environment and taking care of the environment,” Wilson Montessori Principal Beth Bonnette said. “As a part of our environment, the concrete hallways are painted brown and blue like land and water, and the students like the ebb and flow that goes with that.”

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Pilgrim Academy addition set for completion next month

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Construction on Pilgrim Academy’s new building addition is nearing completion with work on the project scheduled to wrap up at the end of April.

Interior ductwork and sprinkler system piping have been installed, as have the ceiling grid and insulation. Installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are underway and exterior brickwork is ongoing. Most internal drywall also is in place, while painting and interior finishes will be the focus in the coming weeks.

“It will be wonderful to have the extra space for our middle school students,” Pilgrim Academy Principal Diana Castillo said. “We can’t wait to move in.” Continue reading →

One new school, three new additions to open this month

One new school building and three school additions will open to students when they return from spring break on March 19. The campuses are part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program to rebuild or replace 40 schools across the district. Continue reading →

Wilson Montessori prepares to welcome students to new building addition

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Construction on the three-story addition to Wilson Montessori is wrapping up, with the school preparing to open a portion of the facility next week and complete the remainder of their move-in over spring break.

Workers are finishing interior touches, and plan to do a final cleaning before crews start setting up furniture. Exterior site work, including sidewalk installation, will be complete in the coming weeks.

The Montrose-area prekindergarten through eighth-grade school is receiving a $24.7 million makeover as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond program. The project includes construction of the addition, as well as renovations to the historic main building, which was built in 1924. Continue reading →

New Lamar HS to facilitate innovative approach to learning

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At Lamar High School, it’s not uncommon to see a massive crane hoisting steel columns and beams into the air as crews work to rebuild the school as part of the 2012 Bond Program.

The $122.9 million project began vertical construction last November with the installation of the new building’s first upright column. Steel installation has been underway since then, recently reaching as high as the third floor of the building’s north wing.

While crews construct the physical structure, Lamar Principal James McSwain is working with educators to ensure furniture and interior features of the new building enhance the school’s innovative new teaching methods. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves contract for construction of four Harvey-damaged schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a construction contract for the rebuilding of four elementary schools — Braeburn, Scarborough, Kolter, and Mitchell — severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Trustees authorized district officials to negotiate and execute a Construction Manager-At-Risk — more commonly known as CMAR — contract with Satterfield & Pontikes Construction. A CMAR contract requires the contractor to commit to completing a project within a guaranteed maximum price. Though that price has not yet been negotiated, the agenda item states that the total cost of the project is not to exceed the project budget. Continue reading →

2012 Bond launches Twitter to provide easy access to latest construction updates

Wish you could get the latest information and updates on construction progress at your child’s school? Now you can. Just follow @Build_HISD on Twitter, and you’ll have all that information at your fingertips.

The new page was launched last month to provide families with quick and easy access to the latest information — photos, videos, project updates, meeting recaps — about 2012 Bond projects across the district.

Follow us. Re-tweet us. Tag us with your questions. Or tweet your own construction photos, and we can retweet you. You can also look for and use our hashtags #BuildHISD, #2012Bond, and #BuiltForLearning. Continue reading →

Wilson Montessori bond construction reaches 75 percent completion

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Construction on Wilson Montessori is nearing the homestretch as work on the school’s new thee-story addition reached 75 percent completion this quarter.

The Montrose-area kindergarten through eighth grade school is receiving a $24.7 million makeover as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond program. The project includes construction of a new addition, as well as renovations to the historic facility, which was built in 1924. Continue reading →

Pilgrim Academy construction nears halfway mark 

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Construction at Pilgrim Academy went vertical last month, as workers erected steel columns and framing to support the new building addition.

Work on the $8.9 million project is expected to reach the halfway mark by year’s end.

“It’s wonderful to see the project has progressed to this point,” Pilgrim Principal Diana Castillo said. “The expansion is much-needed, so there’s a lot of anticipation, and we’re eager to move in next spring.”

As part of the Houston Independent School District’s 2012 Bond Program, the kindergarten through eighth grade school is receiving renovations and a new addition that includes a new science lab, a gymnasium, flexible learning areas, teacher work spaces and additional classrooms. Continue reading →

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School dedicates new Dragon & Phoenix Spark Park 

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Mandarin Immersion Magnet School students on Friday climbed aboard a dragon, a phoenix, and other colorful playground equipment at the school’s dedication of its new Spark Park.

The Dragon and Phoenix Spark Park is the first in a series of Spark park dedications around the city. November is going to be a busy month, with 10 new parks opening in five school districts – three more of which are in HISD.

During Spark Week (Nov. 13-17), eight more parks will be dedicated, including parks at HISD’s Hartsfield Elementary, Clifton Middle, and Mark Twain Elementary.  Continue reading →