Dr. Joe J. Bernal Middle School

Location: San Antonio, Texas
Client: Northside I.S.D.
Architect: Alamo Architects
Completion Date: August 2014
General Contractor: Bartlett Cocke Construction
Project Size: 192,000 s.f.
Site Area: 2.8 Acres
Structural Engineer: Persyn Engineering
MEP Engineer: Wallis Engineering Group
Civil Engineer: MTR Engineers
Landscape Architect: Cooper Lochte
Building Code/Life Safety: PDI
Information Technology: Combs Consulting
Recognition / Awards / Publication: 2015 Star of Distinction in the area of Sustainability by the TASA/TASB Convention Exhibit of School Architecture.

Located on the edge of the Hill Country, the site selected for Stevens Ranch Middle School was heavily wooded and sloped 50 feet diagonally front to back.  Alamo Architects developed a site strategy that set aside a 4 acre tree preserve and then organized the school garden, courtyard and library around the forest.  A unique z shaped building plan allowed each classroom access to daylight and views and the building was stepped down the hill to meet the sports fields in the back.  Trees found on the site were also used as an organizing element for the way finding within the building with each stair designated by a native tree species. The 190,000 sf school is designed for a population of 1200 students and is being designed to Texas Collaborative High Performance Schools (TxCHPS) sustainability standards.