The amount of knowledge you can share in a lunch hour is often underestimated. The North Texas chapter of The Association for Learning Environments encourages using that time to learn from their members. Their chapter lunch meetings are an exchange of experiences and ideas – a full stomach and a full mind.

BRW and Pogue Construction recently sponsored a chapter lunch meeting on a familiar subject – the newly completed Workman Junior High School. BRW’s Principal Lisa W. Lamkin, FAIA moderated a panel discussion that examined the multi-step, collaborative process required to make this project a success.

Input came from panelists involved in every step of the process. Zach Walker, Vice President of Pogue Construction, discussed the value of the having the CMAR involved early on in the design process. Staff members of Arlington Independent School District weighed in on the district’s perspective of the planning and programming phases. BRW’s Anne Hildenbrand, AIA and Richard Flores, AIA, Staff Architect for Arlington ISD answered questions about compromise and coordination between a client’s dream and a client’s budget.

The Workman Junior High School project was part of a much larger bond program with Arlington ISD. With a growing number of aging and underserved schools in the district, the panel especially focused on how Workman fit into the big picture. Because the project was a combination of two schools, the new campus had to address the needs of both in one building.

AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos dived into the specifics of convincing district families that the need was great, faculty would still be employed, and operations quality would not fail.

“Listening to the superintendent talk about [AISD’s] bond-planning process and how they present to the public was a perspective I had not considered, said Abby Hiles, AIA. “They really focused on finances and responsibility to their students to create a campus that serves the whole district in a better way.”

The discussion wrapped up with a tour of the facility to see the finished campus in action. Bruce McNabb, account executive for Tandus Centiva, was in attendance and found the reoriented campus truly impressive.

“BRW took an old building and made it really inviting. They created a cohesive campus, down to the way they constructed the traffic flow,” said McNabb. “By modernizing the site, they created something the community could be proud of and taking pride in their school is something that always benefits students.”

From bond planning to design and construction, Workman Junior High School was a project four years in the making but the security and encouraging environment created by the new school will mean everything to students for many years to come.

Panelists and special guests included:

Moderator – Lisa W. Lamkin, FAIA, Principal, BRW Architects
Anne Hildenbrand, AIA, Director, BRW Architects
Zach Walker, Vice President, Pogue Construction
Wm. Kelly Horn, Executive Director of Plant Services, Arlington ISD
Cindy Powell, CFO, Arlington ISD
Richard A. Flores, AIA, Staff Architect, Arlington ISD
Special Guest – Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent, Arlington ISD