Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Architects present final schematic for Liberty Hill Elementary No. 8; site constrained to 12.65 acres
Summary
District and design team reviewed refinements to the schematic for Elementary No. 8, a 1,000‑student facility sited on 12.65 acres in the Lariat master‑planned community with multi‑level design to work with steep topography.
Liberty Hill ISD trustees on Dec. 16 received a final schematic presentation for Elementary School No. 8, a planned 1,000‑student campus located in the Lariat master‑planned community. The design team described refinements to classroom layouts, the cafeteria and gym/cafeteria stage arrangements and site circulation intended to keep the project on budget while addressing the site's steep topography.
An architect representing the design team told the board the building is sited on approximately 12.65 acres, "which is a very small site for a thousand student elementary school," and that the team had achieved the target price point for the larger capacity school.
Design and site features
Key design features presented to trustees include:
- Two‑level (split) layout that works with the slope so some classrooms look out toward the rear play area and others access second‑floor features via stairs and ramps; windows were included for lower‑level rooms to avoid creating a "dungeon" effect. - A cafeteria with adjacent stage and back‑of‑house circulation; the design includes a flexible stage/gym arrangement with tiered seating on one side and storage rooms flanking the seating to allow multiuse during events. - Dedicated pre‑K and kindergarten wing near main entry; library accessible from the main corridor with covered outdoor balcony space for flexible learning; science, art and STEM labs accessible to outdoor areas. - Vehicular circulation that separates bus drop‑off to the west from parent drop‑off, with a future road connection anticipated from County Road 214; designers noted a required fire lane that also functions as part of the playscape perimeter.
Campus layout and budget status
The architect said the team pulled stonework and finishes to align the school's front character with the Lariat community center and that the project is currently slightly below the targeted budget. American Constructors has been engaged for early site and utility work; the design team said the full construction procurement was recently bid and that the team anticipates commencing construction in early 2025.
Trustees asked about specific programmatic items such as classroom storage, flexibility for special‑education classrooms and the interplay of stage and cafeteria walls for event needs. The design team explained where dedicated storage and mechanical chases are located and said they had incorporated feedback from prior campuses where possible.
No action was taken on the schematic; the board later approved a separate guaranteed maximum price (GMP) early package for site work and related scopes at the meeting.
