In San Antonio, Pre-K 4 SA, which provides preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and HOLT Group, which owns industrial and other companies, recently broke ground on an early childhood education: the South Education Center.
Slated for completion by summer 2025, the South Education Center aims to provide access to high-quality early childhood education for the southeast side of San Antonio—a traditionally under-resourced region and an area identified as a childcare desert.
In recent years, south and southeast San Antonio has seen a decline in high-quality childcare options, especially for families with kids 4 years and younger, according to a press statement from Pre-K 4 SA and HOLT Group.
The design by RDG Planning+Design offers abundant light throughout the building. The center’s colors and natural materials, such as stone, wood, and green walls, were inspired by the local landscape, culture, and landmarks, including the San Fernando Cathedral.
Each space in the center has been designed to foster young children’s growth and development and encourage learning through play. Every classroom offers direct access to outdoor porch settings and play areas. All exterior play areas are shielded by the building to create a safe environment away from busy streets and parking lots.
“This school takes inspiration from the natural surroundings and the cultural vibrancy of San Antonio, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces to create an engaging, enriching place for young learners,” Antonio Plascencia, principal senior designer, said in a statement.
The state-of-the-art facility features modern classrooms equipped to meet the highest early childhood education standards. Specialized spaces will support families, teacher collaboration, and interactive learning and play-based activities.
On the Building Team:
Owner/developer: Holt Texas, Ltd.
Design architect: RDG Planning+Design
Architect of record: Pfluger Architects
MEP engineer: Cleary Zimmermann Engineers
Structural engineer: Lundy & Franke Engineering
General contractor: G.W. Mitchell Construction
Landscaping: Rialto Studio
Technology: Combs Consulting Group
Related Stories
| Sep 20, 2021
K-12 school design trends for 2021, with Wold's Vaughn Dierks
K-12 school design exert Vaughn Dierks discusses the latest K-12 school design trends and needs.
K-12 Schools | Sep 5, 2021
Philadelphia builds a new school in under 18 months, thanks to a P3 pact between the school district and developer
Gilbane and Stantec were key players in the design and construction of Propel Academy.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
K-12 Schools | Aug 18, 2021
Hastings Architecture completes two new K-12 projects in Nashville
The projects have very different programs but both play critical roles on their respective campuses.
K-12 Schools | Aug 13, 2021
A new P3 guide for K-12 school construction is released
This alternative financing isn’t a silver bullet, but it does provide options to cash-strapped districts.
Contractors | Jul 23, 2021
The aggressive growth of Salas O'Brien, with CEO Darin Anderson
Engineering firm Salas O'Brien has made multiple acquisitions over the past two years to achieve its Be Local Everywhere business model. In this exclusive interview for HorizonTV, BD+C's John Caulfield sits down with the firm's Chairman and CEO, Darin Anderson, to discuss its business model.
K-12 Schools | Jul 9, 2021
LPA Architects' STEM high school post-occupancy evaluation
LPA Architects conducted a post-occupancy evaluation, or POE, of the eSTEM Academy, a new high school specializing in health/medical and design/engineering Career Technical Education, in Eastvale, Calif. The POE helped LPA, the Riverside County Office of Education, and the Corona-Norco Unified School District gain a better understanding of which design innovations—such as movable walls, flex furniture, collaborative spaces, indoor-outdoor activity areas, and a student union—enhanced the education program, and how well students and teachers used these innovations.
K-12 Schools | Jun 29, 2021
A Maryland school system launches a P3 program to speed up K-12 school design, financing, and construction
Gilbane and Stantec are part of a consortium that breaks ground on six new schools this week.
![Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]](/sites/default/files/styles/list_big/public/Oceanographer%20John%20Englander%20Talks%20Resiliency%20and%20Buildings%20YT%20new_0.jpg?itok=enJ1TWJ8 "Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]")
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.
