The gist
The event took place March 19 and celebrated the start of renovations in addition to the 50th anniversary of Oak Hill Elementary.
The school, located at 6101 Patton Ranch Road, Austin, was constructed in 1974 and was designed with an open-concept floor plan. This means the school was built without doors or full walls between many classrooms, according to a news release.
Oak Hill Elementary’s renovation will enclose the classrooms, create new spaces for small groups and a new front entrance. This was designed by Smith & Company Architects and is being built by Cadence McShane Construction.
The background
On Dec. 12, the district hosted a "construction kickoff" for Odom Elementary School, which marked the beginning of the school improvement projects funded by the bond.
Like Oak Hill Elementary, Odom Elementary was built in the 1970s, and will receive similar renovations to enclose classrooms.
A total of 25 modernization projects are part of the 2022 bond, which include full replacement campuses or major school renovations in addition to the four open-concept campuses that are in need of changes, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Quote of note
“With these new spaces, the school will be filled with light, vibrant colors and flexibility for our teachers and students,” Oak Hill Elementary Principal Lori Komassa said in a news release. “Beyond the appearance, one of the most important benefits of the redesign is that it will make our school safer.”
What’s next
Renovations for Oak Hill Elementary are anticipated to be completed in 2025, as is the Odom Elementary project, according to a project schedule released by AISD officials. This is subject to change.
Cook Elementary School and Williams Elementary School are the two additional open-concept campuses and are anticipated to begin work in 2024, according to the schedule.
For more information on the 2022 bond, visit www.aisdfuture.org.
