2025 AIA/CES Conference Session Participation Form »
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Busses depart hotel at 7:45 AM
Tour 1
Lewisville ISD – Technology, Exploration & Career Center West
1250A W Round Grove Rd, Lewisville, TX 75067
Based on the idea that many future jobs do not yet exist, TECC-W is designed to cultivate integration. Synergies generated by collaboration between programs will forecast the jobs students encounter upon graduation. A modular design for power, exhaust, and furniture allows shop spaces to switch functions with minimal disruption—what is now welding or woodworking space can later become a robotics or renewables shop. The integrative design process also utilized spaces above the shops and kitchen that would typically go unused. The flexible design resulted in 94% of the building being educational space—far above the 81% average of comparable regional CTE centers. The larger footprint and updated electrical systems support 21st-century learning and make resources accessible to students without having to leave the classroom, let alone the campus.
Dallas ISD – Career Institute North
10115 Midway Rd, Dallas, TX 75229
After severe tornado damage in October 2019 left Walnut Hill Elementary unusable, the 55,000 SF building transformed into a state-of-the-art Career Institute for grades 9–12. This project includes selective demolition, a full renovation, and the addition of 110,000 SF of new construction to create an innovative learning environment. The new Institute offers a variety of in-demand, hands-on programs and serves up to 1,600 students daily from five area high schools.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore how CTE spaces incorporate health and safety measures, including ventilation systems, ergonomics, and equipment safety to create secure learning environments.
- Learn how CTE facilities integrate universal design principles and accessibility features to accommodate students with diverse needs, ensuring full participation in hands-on learning activities.
- Examine the safety features and emergency response protocols in CTE spaces, including fire alarms, emergency exits, and secure entry points, to protect students and staff.
- Explore how CTE spaces are designed to support collaborative learning and flexible use, including adaptable layouts and technology that facilitate group work and creative projects.
Tour 2
Dallas ISD – Geneva Heights Elementary
2911 Delmar Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
As part of a $3 billion bond program, Dallas ISD sought to create equitable schools that supported diverse learning while preserving community identity. Geneva Heights Elementary posed a challenge, as the community was divided between building a new facility or preserving the 1930s Art Deco structure. This session will explore how we balanced these views, delivering a modern learning environment while honoring the building’s heritage. Attendees will learn how strategic decision-making, creative problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement overcame site, budget, and construction challenges, creating a school that meets both educational goals and community needs.
Irving ISD – The Magda A. Hernández Institute of Wellness and Professional Learning (MAHI)
4615 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75038
The Magda A. Hernández Institute of Wellness and Professional Learning (MAHI) is one-of-a-kind facility that enhances the overall well-being of staff, parents and students, providing a space for work, learning and healing. Funded exclusively by Tax Increment Fund (TIF) monies, MAHI houses the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), PEACE (Parent Education & Community Involvement), Adult Education and Literacy (AEL), along with Employee Wellness and Professional Learning spaces. These programs have experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of Superintendent Hernandez. In addition to these programs, MAHI features spaces for mediation, a wellness room equipped with treadmills, free weights and varies fitness equipment. MAHI also offers reservation-based complimentary wellness offerings, including yoga, fitness, nutrition, financial literacy classes and more. The vision for this center is to provide a space for district staff, parents and the community to grown and thrive.
Dallas College Richland – Red River Hall
W7CC+RW 12800 Abrams Rd, Dallas, TX 75243
Anchoring the campus entry portal on the east side of Dallas College Richland Campus, the new academic building not only provides needed flexible classroom and lab spaces but is placed on a mature, beautifully maintained campus – reflecting the refined and simple existing elegance of its environment and architectural vocabulary while fully embracing advances in student and faculty teaching and learning expectations for the future. The building form is a simple, economical two-story “L” footprint forming two blocks of programmed spaces for classrooms, labs, School of Business Bloomberg Finance and Investment Lab, administrative spaces, food service, conferencing, and collaborative learning. This building provides the opportunity for students from area ISD high schools to become immersed in an authentic collegiate environment, facilitating a learning environment that fosters growth and broadens their perspective regarding the art of the possible in their future.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore principles of design for creating equitable environments which foster diverse learning.
- Learn about the challenges to preserving the community identity in the design.
- Delve into creating spaces for overall health and well being of students.
- Attendees will leave with actionable steps for flexible space learning.
Tour 3
Rockwall ISD – Rockwall Heath High School Ninth Grade Campus
2727 S John King Blvd, Rockwall, TX 75032
Based on demographic projections, Rockwall ISD will experience 21 percent growth by 2030, prompting the need for two new future-ready high schools. In the meantime, to prepare for future growth and alleviate current overcrowding, the district created prototype ninth-grade centers as additions to their current high schools. The current design and branding for the Rockwall Health High School Ninth Grade Campus promotes a shared sense of pride and direct correlations to the existing high school while allowing for flexibility for rebranding and expansion in the future. The campus will prepare ninth graders with academic and career-ready skills to collaborate and think critically in a positive, empathetic, and supportive environment, helping Rockwall ISD meet high standards of academic achievement and prepare students for generations to come.
Forney ISD – The Keith Bell Opportunity Central
680 Innovation Blvd, Forney, TX 75126
Nicknamed “The OC,” the building offers a new concept for career and college instruction that also engages the community through life-long learning, special events, wellness activities, business partnerships, and more. The OC serves Forney ISD students during school hours and remains open on evenings and weekends for college and community activities. The OC features eateries, retail and services that are supported by students. Flexible and technology-rich learning space supports a range of CTE programs, dual-credit programs, and college coursework. Co-working space is located on the first floor while the second and third floors feature classrooms, labs, and multi-purpose instructional space. An arena is located at the heart of the facility and features retractable seating on the first and second floors, along with instructional space on the third floor that overlooks the venue. Several spaces overlook the “front yard,” a green space that features a paved plaza, rolling hills, and an outdoor venue.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about the approach to both student and teacher CTE collaboration spaces.
- Showcase the blending of historical and modern architecture for future expansion.
- Identify building strategies the effectively maximize community engagement.
- Recognize elements that serve indoor and outdoor learning needs.
Tour 4
Dallas ISD – Career Institute North
10115 Midway Rd, Dallas, TX 75229
After severe tornado damage in October 2019 left Walnut Hill Elementary unusable, the 55,000 SF building transformed into a state-of-the-art Career Institute for grades 9–12. This project includes selective demolition, a full renovation, and the addition of 110,000 SF of new construction to create an innovative learning environment. The new Institute offers a variety of in-demand, hands-on programs and serves up to 1,600 students daily from five area high schools.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore how CTE spaces incorporate health and safety measures, including ventilation systems, ergonomics, and equipment safety to create secure learning environments.
- Learn how CTE facilities integrate universal design principles and accessibility features to accommodate students with diverse needs, ensuring full participation in hands-on learning activities.
- Examine the safety features and emergency response protocols in CTE spaces, including fire alarms, emergency exits, and secure entry points, to protect students and staff.
- Explore how CTE spaces are designed to support collaborative learning and flexible use, including adaptable layouts and technology that facilitate group work and creative projects.
Dallas College Brookhaven – Early College High School
3939 Valley View Ln #4906, Farmers Branch, TX 75244
The Early College High School Buildings (V & W) at the Dallas College Brookhaven Campus support the Carrollton-Farmers Branch (CFBISD) and Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The mission of the early college program is to graduate globally-minded citizens who are competently and confidently prepared to complete a four-year university program and who can positively lead and democratically serve their local communities. The early college program is a pathway to college-level career and technical education certificates and associate degrees.