Adaptability is a key theme in the design of Godley ISD’s new high school. Inspired by a college campus, the central feature of the facility is a grand Center for Learning & Innovation (CLI) that blends learning, social and civic use into an open-concept, adaptable space. The CLI features a café, library, collaboration rooms with movable walls, a film room, learning stair and access to the outdoors. It creates a mash-up of spaces that can be utilized in infinitely possible ways to customize the learning experience.
The school will be designed in phases, with Phase 1 focused on core components and academics. The CLI is the epicenter of the school, which also includes a 3-story academic wing and athletic support spaces. Next to the CLI, an outdoor courtyard features benches and a projection screen, reinforcing concepts of community and social learning. On the north side, a second story deck overlooks the football stadium—a design choice inspired by collegiate stadiums. It too is adaptable, and GISD can purpose it for learning, social, athletic and public use.
The new school adjoins the current facility, which will be repurposed into a middle school. The close proximity of the high school and middle school campuses will increase schedule flexibility and academic opportunities. The schools will create a shared campus connected with pedestrian walkways. Phase 2 of the high school includes the addition of fine arts, CTE, a competition gymnasium, a performing arts center and expansion of athletics.
Godley High School will support 700 students in grades 9-12. Planning an innovative design within the budget of $28 million required thoughtful use of space, as well as careful consideration of how to phase the project to take advantage of available facilities and amenities. It also required a team approach, tested when the district and Huckabee were faced with an unanticipated budget challenge: following a successful bond program, preliminary projections for tax revenue were lower than anticipated—a result of a decline in natural gas mineral property taxes (a large percent of the tax base is rooted in the natural gas mineral industry).
The team immediately worked with the construction manager to create a priority list and alternates that would frame the budget, successfully bringing an incredible facility within the new cost parameters. They focused on creating spaces that had multi-purpose uses, such as a CLI, outdoor learning courtyard and presentation rooms purposed for academic, athletic and community needs. The connection between the stadium and learning space also supported multi-functional use. This focus on adaptability minimized inefficiencies in the program and maximized budget.
At 120,000 sf, the new Godley High School is an innovative and engaging space that will support district growth—in enrollment and educational delivery—for decades to come. It’s a project that will change the community and support its development into a destination district while also providing interactive, real-world experiences for students. The campus is set to open in 2018.
