Bonham Elementary

Bonham Elementary was originally built in 1889 as San Antonio Public School No. 10.  The two-story brick structure with limestone and granite trim contained eight classrooms.  Serving the expanding neighborhoods of the King William area, a four-classroom wing was added to the north and the south in 1910.  The first permanent structure to house the cafeteria was built in 1938 and was connected to the school building with a breezeway.  Increases in student population were addressed with the addition of portable classrooms beginning in 1950 and continuing through 1994.  The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Plans in 1979.

Our renovation and addition project was initiated by the San Antonio Independent School District to replace the portable buildings.  The new two-story addition added eight classrooms, a library, administrative offices, restroom facilities, and also expanded the cafeteria by 50 percent.  The original building’s interior was renovated to meet Texas Education Agency standards for pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade as well as ADA standards.

The existing library and office areas were returned to classroom space for a total addition of ten classrooms.  The site formally occupied by portables was partially paved for a new basketball court, trees were planted and space was left for a future age-appropriate playground for pre-K and kindergarten students.

The color of materials chosen for the addition were reversed and details were synthesized from the 1889–1910 buildings.  Double-hung wood windows, raised panel doors, and brick detailing matching the original were utilized on the addition.  The existing west facade of the original building was left exposed as one side of the main corridor and the two main public stairs were located to reinforce the links between the 1889 main building and the 1910 wings.

Client> San Antonio Independent School District
Construction Cost> $2.55 Million
Completion> November 1996