Casis Elementary School in Austin, Texas broke ground on its ground-up renovation last week via a live stream in a celebration for the community of students, parents, teachers and board members. The 69-year-old campus will be transformed into a modern campus with 21st-century learning environments and a strong connection to the beloved forest that surrounds the campus.
The March 8 virtual groundbreaking was lead by Principal Samuel Tinnon. The 90,000-square-foot campus will undergo complete reconstruction over the next two years, following ideas developed in LPA’s engagement with the community and educators.
“Planning the Casis Elementary modernization has been a great process, thanks to the help of our project team,” Principal Samuel Tinnon says. “They have come up with amazing ideas to serve our students.”
Casis Elementary School Streams Virtual Groundbreaking
During the online ceremony, participants were able to share their excitement in the dedicated chat room. Students expressed their school pride by singing the school anthem. A real-time poll captured a breakdown of who was watching and reported a comparison between students, faculty and community members.
Prior to the event, students were encouraged to have their own “groundbreaking” at home using supplies like spoons and flour, a shovel and dirt, or even crushed-up Oreos and gummy worms.“Hearing the students sing their hearts out to show their school pride really made this virtual ground breaking special,” Kate Mraw, LPA Design Director says. “We can’t wait for the students to experience the joy of their new school.”
The first phase of the new Casis campus includes an academic wing that will complete in time for the 2021 school year. The fully modernized campus is scheduled to open at the beginning of the 2022 school year.
LPA’s design for Casis, which meets LEED Silver standards, focuses on energy efficiency and emphasizes the connection to nature. The new campus will include indoor and outdoor collaborative learning spaces, a community room and improved district safety standards. The Casis Forest and an organic garden will remain key elements in the future school.
