Phillis Wheatley Middle School

Wheatley Middle School was designed to be a new, state-of-the-art facility for 800 students, and to have symbolic and cultural significance in the community.

Originally built in 1932 as the original all African-American high school, Wheatley had been designated a Historic Landmark by the City of San Antonio in 1986.  The 1997 San Antonio Independent School District bond program called for Wheatley to be replaced. The original 1932 building had been added onto more than seven times over a 40-year period, and the resulting campus had become inefficient and obsolete.

The design team (in partnership with Chesney Morales) developed a concept that called for the majority of the additions to be torn down to the reveal the historic building. Once the site was cleared, a 75,000-square-foot addition was configured to create a large private courtyard, a welcoming new focal point for the school. A new student bus drop-off and a secondary lobby greets the students and teachers entering from a new parking area. The school’s amenities include a restored auditorium, a 5,000-square-foot library, two gyms and dressing areas, new band and choir facilities, new cafeteria and kitchen, special education facilities, six science labs and 36 classrooms. The intent of the design was to create a facility that looked and felt like it was completely new and fresh, while respecting the original historic architecture.

Client> San Antonio Independent School District
Construction Cost> $13.5 Million
Completion> October 2002

Joint venture with Chesney Morales Architects, San Antonio