Legacy Elementary School Opens in Uvalde: New Campus Embodies Trauma-Informed Design and Community Resilience

A Community-Centered Design Process 

The new school will meet the needs of 21st century students. This project shows what communities can accomplish when they work together with purpose and compassion.  

From September 2022 through March 2023, families of victims and survivors, students, educators, law enforcement, and community members participated in 10 Community Advisory Committee meetings, four public presentations, and multiple design sessions. The trauma-informed process, facilitated by MOREgroup’s Huckabee brand, ensured that every voice shaped the final design. 

 “Our firm has a long-standing tradition of taking on pro bono projects, partnering with organizations that need our expertise and providing our services at no cost,” says Chris Huckabee, Founder and Executive Officer of MOREgroup. “It’s woven into our history and values. While the Uvalde project was rooted in that same commitment, it became the largest and most ambitious pro bono effort we’ve ever undertaken. Given the loss this community experienced, we felt a deep responsibility to use our skills to help create a place of healing, hope, and renewed safety for Uvalde’s children.” 

Uvalde’s Identity Reflected in Every Detail 

Community members requested that the school celebrate the distinctive character of their town. The design incorporates elements meaningful to Uvalde: 

• Regional sunset colors flowing through interior spaces 

• Monarch butterfly motifs honoring the migration path through Uvalde 

• Honeybee imagery celebrating the town’s title as honey capital of the world 

• Natural limestone and D’Hanis brick connecting to local architectural traditions 

• Large, flourishing native oak trees 

• A wooden memorial tree sculpture with 21 branches, two representing teachers and 19 representing children, created to honor each life lost. 

The memorial also pays tribute to Annie Robb, the original school’s namesake, who led 1898 efforts to protect Uvalde’s ancient live oaks, helping establish the town’s identity as “the tree city.” 

Safety That Feels Like Home 

Community stakeholders were clear about their priority: comprehensive security that doesn’t feel institutional. The campus achieves this through thoughtfully integrated features including layered security zones, secure entry vestibules, advanced monitoring systems, bullet-resistant glazing, and keyless entry, all designed to be present but not prominent. 

 The facility includes 36 classrooms, specialized STEM and art spaces, a fully air-conditioned gymnasium, a vibrant library with cultural motifs, a cafeteria with performance platform, and collaboration areas throughout. This marks Uvalde CISD’s first new construction since 2001. 

A New Chapter 

Legacy Elementary School represents the district’s first opportunity to establish modern educational specifications and standards. The project served as an educational effort for Uvalde CISD and its facilities team, providing a foundation for future district development. 

“We had the profound responsibility of creating a space that honors memory while fostering future learning and growth,” said LaShae Baskin, CEO of MOREgroup. “The community told us what they needed, and our role was to listen deeply and bring their vision to life.” 

About MOREgroup 

MOREgroup consists of architecture, design, and engineering practices that collaborate with passion and purpose to serve communities across the nation. We are proud to focus on spaces that make a profound contribution to a strong social infrastructure where generations thrive. Our brands—including E4H Environments for Health Architecture, Huckabee, Innovative Engineering Group, RossTarrant, and TSK—work with healthcare, education, and civic architecture clients to create environments that inspire! Together, we are more.