Texas Architect

Portfolio: 2007 TASA/ TASB Awards

Sky Harbour Elementary

PROJECT Sky Harbour Elementary School
CLIENT Southwest Independent School District
ARCHITECT Pfluger Associates Architects
DESIGN TEAM Michelle Dudley, AIA; Kent Niemann, AIA
CONTRACTOR Joeris General Contractors
CONSULTANTS Persyn Engineering (structural); HMG & Associates (MEP); Civil Engineering Consultants (civil); C.F. Zavala Group (landscape)
PHOTOGRAPHER Clem Spalding; Michelle Dudley, AIA

The 98,620-square-foot Sky Harbour Elementary School, located in the Southwest Independent School District of San Antonio, has been transformed from a solid concrete, windowless building into a series of welcoming, light-filled spaces. Pfluger Associates of San Antonio created a two-story classroom addition with a new administrative area. The firm also developed an atrium space to seamlessly connect the newly designed 47,016 square feet of space to the existing 52,604-square-foot building. Pfluger Associates incorporated the already established dolphin mascot and color scheme into the new school�fs identity system. Architectural features reference marine symbology through the use of round, porthole-like air diffusers, wave-inspired tile patterns, and a lighthouse reading nook. Sky Harbour Elementary School was recognized in the 2007 Exhibit of School Architecture for excellence in five out of five categories - design, educational appropriateness, innovation, process of planning, and value.

--Megan Braley