A first-of-its-kind facility for public schools in Texas, the Holdsworth Center serves as a retreat for public educators, supporting reflection and dialogue. On the shores of the state capital’s Lake Austin, the 44-acre, $200 million leadership-development center includes 15 buildings of 173,000 square feet, while also connecting users with the native landscape.
Lake|Flato’s design was informed by the belief that teachers deserve a healthy setting that supports connection and growth for their professional development and for the next generation’s benefit. Holdsworth Center, which opened in 2021, “was built as a gift for hardworking educators who deserve world-class professional development opportunities that rival what CEOs and business executives experience,” according to a statement by Lake|Flato.
With building views focusing on the lake, the project brings together landscape and buildings with state-of-the-art classrooms, a 300-person lecture space, an open-air amphitheater, walking trails and recreation areas, 186 rooms for overnight stays, and a two-story dock classroom. Parking is placed near the main entry, encouraging visitors to walk among the various trails, buildings, and central commons. To promote health and wellness, 84% of the site is dedicated to open spaces that also support water, wildlife, and ecological conservation. Throughout the campus, deep overhangs and shaded porches evoke traditional Texas lake houses.
When not used by educators, the Holdsworth Center serves as a private event and meeting space for rent, with proceeds supporting the Center’s mission.
On the Building Team:
Owner: The Holdsworth Center (owner), Square One (owner’s representative)
Design architect: Lake|Flato Architects
Architect of record: Lake|Flato Architects
Interior designer: Looney & Associates
Landscape architect: Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
MEP engineer: Integral Group
Structural engineer: Architectural Engineers Collaborative
General contractor/construction manager: The Beck Group
Related Stories
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 5, 2015
Chicago's 7 most endangered properties
Preservation Chicago released its annual list of historic buildings that are at risk of being demolished or falling into decay.
Office Buildings | Mar 3, 2015
Former DuPont lab to be converted into business incubator near UPenn campus
The new Pennovation Center will provide collaborative and research spaces for educators, scientists, students, and the private sector.
K-12 Schools | Mar 2, 2015
BD+C special report: What it takes to build 21st-century schools
How the latest design, construction, and teaching concepts are being implemented in the next generation of America’s schools.
Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2015
Nevada moves to suspend prevailing wage rules on school projects
The Nevada Senate approved a bill that would suspend prevailing wage rules on school projects.
K-12 Schools | Mar 1, 2015
Are energy management systems too complex for school facility staffs?
When school districts demand the latest and greatest, they need to think about how those choices will impact the district’s facilities employees.
Architects | Feb 27, 2015
5 finalists announced for 2015 Mies van der Rohe Award
Bjarke Ingels' Danish Maritime Museum and the Ravensburg Art Museum by Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei are among the five projects vying for the award.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
Should your next school project include a safe room?
Many school districts continue to resist mandating the inclusion of safe rooms or storm shelters in new and existing buildings. But that may be changing.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
Construction funding still scarce for many school districts
Many districts are struggling to have new construction and renovation keep pace with student population growth.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
D.C.'s Dunbar High School is world's highest-scoring LEED school, earns 91% of base credits
The 280,000-sf school achieved 91 points, out of 100 base points possible for LEED, making it the highest-scoring school in the world certified under USGBC’s LEED for Schools-New Construction system.
K-12 Schools | Feb 25, 2015
Polish architect designs modular ‘kids city’ kindergarten using shipping container frames
Forget the retrofit of a shipping container into a building for one moment. Designboom showcases the plans of Polish architect Adam Wiercinski to use just the recycled frames of containers to construct a “kids city.”
