Tag Archives: 2007 bond program

Construction Services GM has lifelong love for building things

(Houston Independent School District)Andreas Peeples was in grade school when he first became fascinated with the idea of building things.

At just 8, he often found himself staring at walls, trying to figure out how they stood up by themselves and what they were made of.

“I would go behind the door and poke little holes in the wall to see what was in there,” Peeples said.

Now, the general manager for HISD’s Construction Services is responsible for building them.

With a bachelor’s degree in construction and engineering and a masters in management, Peeples oversees school construction across the district, including the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program, which calls for the renovation or rebuilding of 40 schools. Continue reading →

Piney Point ES receives National Wildlife Federation Green Flag Award

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Representatives from the National Wildlife Federation visited Piney Point Elementary School this morning to present the campus with the Eco-Schools USA Green Flag Award.

The Green Flag is the highest honor a school can receive from the NWF. Piney Point is only one of two schools in Houston to be recognized this year and one of three elementary schools in the state of Texas to receive the honor.

“Here at Piney Point, we truly live by our motto – Everyone Learning, Everyone Leading,” Principal Bobby Swaby said.

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Condit ES selected as finalist for Texas school architecture competition

Designs for three additional bond schools honored with ‘Stars of Distinction’

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Constructed as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, Condit Elementary School has been selected as one of five finalists vying for the highest honor offered by the 2017-18 Exhibit of School Architecture Competition.

Three additional bond campuses — Atherton Elementary School, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, and Sterling Aviation High School — received Stars of Distinction.

The annual school architecture competition showcases new and renovated Texas schools and recognizes excellence in their planning and design. It is sponsored by the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards.

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Lockhart Elementary to Celebrate Dedication of New School

Ceremony will mark new building constructed under 2007 bond program

What:             Lockhart Elementary will dedicate its new 750-student school, built under the 2007 bond program. Events will include student performances, special guest speakers and classroom tours of the new facility.

Who:               HISD Board of Education Trustee Paula Harris, Lockhart Principal Felicia Adams, and Rev. William Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

When:             Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013 at 9 a.m.

Where:           Lockhart Elementary School, 3200 Rosedale St., Houston, Texas 77004

Neff Elementary to Celebrate Dedication of New School

‘Hooray for Neff Day’ will mark new building constructed under 2007 bond program

What:  Neff Elementary School students and staff will dedicate its new 750-student campus, built under the 2007 bond program, with a ceremony in the school’s cafeteria. The ceremony will be followed by “Hooray for Neff Day.”  Events will include student performances, special guest speakers and classroom tours of the new facility.

Who:  Neff Principal Rupak Gandhi, HISD Board of Education Trustee Greg Meyers, HISD Chief School Officer Sydney Zullinger

When:  Friday, May 24, 2013, 9 a.m. – Ceremony; 11:30 a.m. – ‘Hooray for Neff Day’

Where: Neff Elementary School cafeteria, 8301 Neff  St. Houston, Texas 77036

2012 Bond Campuses Using Environmental Design to Keep Schools Safe

At DeChaumes Elementary School, the main entrance to the school is controlled through an intercom system and two sets of locked doors.

The design process has started for the first phase of HISD’s 2012 bond program, and district officials plan to incorporate crime prevention through environmental design on all 40 campuses under the $1.89 billion bond project.

“We’re going to create safe and secure environments for our students and faculty,” HISD’s General Manager for Facilities Planning Sue Robertson said. “That doesn’t mean creating prison-like environments, but including common-sense applications.”

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Plenty of Time To Join Project Advisory Teams for 2012 Bond Program

PAT_coverWant to help guide the 2012 bond project at your school?  There’s no better way than getting involved with your school’s Project Advisory Team, which will help lead the planning and design of new facilities across the district.

Sharpstown High School Principal Rob Gasparello wasted no time recruiting members for his PAT, which is typically made up of parents, teachers, community members and students. His school is among the first group of 17 schools to be built as part of the 2012 bond program.

“We want the final product to be the sum of its parts,” Gasparello said. “We want to gather as much input of what a 21st century school really needs to look like — we don’t want just one point of view.”

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2007 Bond Principals Share Their Insights and Experience

Lockhart Elementary School Principal Felicia Adams

Lockhart Elementary School Principal Felicia Adams

Schools getting ready for the 2012 HISD bond program don’t need to look far for helpful advice.

Just ask Peck Elementary School Principal Carlotta Brown, whose school was rebuilt thanks to the 2007 bond program.   “I made my expectations to architects known from the beginning,” Brown said. “I told them I would be looking over things because I did not want sub-standard work.”

Brown’s vigilance paid off. Located in the Third Ward off Martin Luther King, Jr. Road, Peck’s new 750-student school opened in January after being consolidated with nearby McArthur Elementary School. Her goal was to make sure the new building reflected both campuses and communities.

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HISD, City Recognized for Environmentally Sustainable Buildings

Houston was celebrated on Tuesday for its green building efforts – thanks in part to HISD and new schools built over the past five years under the 2007 bond program.

Roger Platt, senior vice president of Global Policy and Law at the U.S. Green Building Council, joined Houston Mayor Annise Parker and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier at Cunningham Elementary School to mark Texas being ranked among the top 10 states for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in 2012.

Left to right: Roger Platt of the U.S. Green Building Council, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.

Left to right: Roger Platt of the U.S. Green Building Council, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. Click image to see more photos from the event.

“We’re celebrating that Texans have begun to demand more from these buildings and have fueled the birth of a new green building marketplace,” Platt said.

Cunningham Elementary recently earned the USGBC’s highest LEED ranking – Gold certification. In October, the Gulf Coast Chapter of the USGBC presented HISD with its Green Pioneer Award.

“We are excited to be part of this green school movement,” Grier said. “When we build schools, we want to see these schools green certified.”

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Majority of Work Under 2007 Bond is Complete; 20 New Schools Open

As the Houston Independent School District moves forward with planning for the 2012 bond program to renovate, build, or replace 40 schools, work is under way to finish all the projects in the 2007 bond program over the next two years.

As of January, more than 77 percent of the approved work in the 2007 bond program was complete. Among the milestones are 20 new schools open for students, including Berry Elementary School, which offers a hands-on science garden and two environmental science instruction labs.  Continue reading →