The new High School for Performing and Visual Arts will be connected to the center of Houston when the school moves downtown near the city’s renowned arts and theater district.
“Other than the Frank Sinatra high school in New York, we don’t know of any other performing arts high school that will be this embedded in downtown,” said architect Lester Yuen of Gensler, the firm designing the new HSPVA.
Administrators are recommending that the HISD Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate contracts with seven firms to provide construction manager at risk (CMAR) services on selected 2012 bond projects.
Architects go over design ideas for the new DeBakey High School for Health Professions during a design charrette.
Houston ISD will be rebuilding two of its specialty high schools into 21st century campuses that cultivate creativity and collaboration when construction gets underway on the new DeBakey High School for Health Professions and the new High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
That consensus came as each school held a two-day design charrette with their Project Advisory Teams and architects to discuss specific goals and aspirations for the new campuses.
“Students are more open and receptive to learning if they can access it visually,” said architect Greg Papay, who is part of the architect team designing the new DeBakey. “We’re designing a 21st century school where learning will happen in a variety of spaces.”
The HISD bond program was featured recently in the Summer 2013 issue of Cite magazine, which is published quarterly by the Rice Design Alliance and covers the latest in urban planning, architecture, arts and preservation in Houston.
Three articles in the issue delve into what will be built with funds from the $1.89 billion bond, which was passed in November. HISD Superintendent Terry Grier explains the district’s campaign to build 21st century schools and implement blended learning curriculum.
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Architects from the global design and planning firm Gensler spoke to a crowd of about 40 at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts on Thursday to discuss their vision for the new campus, which is being built under the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program that will replace or rebuild 40 schools across Houston.
Selected projects include five more schools and athletic facility upgrades
May 9, 2013 – The HISD Board of Education authorized the district to negotiate design contracts with six firms on selected 2012 bond projects, including two of the district’s renowned specialty high schools – DeBakey High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
The 2012 bond proposal includes $64.5 million to rebuild DeBakey High School for Health Professions. The new campus would be located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center and would provide students with expanded access to health care and research facilities. DeBakey is one several HISD magnet and specialty schools that would be rebuilt under the 2012 Bond proposal.
Current DeBakey HS.
A new campus is also planned for the nationally renowned High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. It would be built downtown near Houston’s vaunted Theater District on land that HISD already owns at 1300 Capitol.
HSPVA would get a new campus under the 2012 bond.
In all, the 2012 bond proposal includes funding to rebuild or renovate 38 schools, upgrade technology in all HISD classrooms, and make other districtwide improvements. The Board of Education is set to vote on the 2012 bond proposal on August 9. If an election is called and the measure is approved by voters in November, the design phase of the bond project could begin in early 2013 and construction of new schools would likely start in 2014.