Bellaire Elementary School Replacement

Bellaire Elementary is a replacement for an existing campus built in the late 1950s. Based on a previous district prototype that’s been modified according to stakeholder feedback, the new school is sized to accommodate anticipated growth for the area’s student population. The design has become a lynchpin of the district’s prototypes, bringing forward the best elements of previous designs while evolving the standard for future iterations.

The design process was collaborative, with administration and campus principals partnering with us to evaluate other recent district elementary schools and adjust their floor plans and capacities for the new Bellaire. The result is a campus that’s accommodating while also efficient, housing 38 classrooms, including three pre-k learning environments, as well as educational support spaces. The gym doubles as the code-required tornado shelter.

Bellaire draws from the same exterior material vocabulary as one of its district precedents, Oakwood Terrace, with canopies and brick and concrete masonry complemented by composite wood accents. The color palette, however, is custom to Bellaire, featuring hues that harmonize with the neighborhood.