South Dallas Middle School Receives National Spotlight in Outstanding School Design

DALLAS - Oct. 13, 2015 - PRLog -- (www.KAITexas.com) – Dallas ISD’s Billy Earl Dade Middle School was recently chosen by American School & University Magazine to be featured in their 2015 Architectural Portfolio for outstanding middle school design. The portfolio will be included in the magazine’s November 2015 publication, which is utilized by administrators at schools and universities nationwide as an educational facility sourcebook. Devised through the joint venture efforts of architecture design firms KAI Texas and Muñoz & Company, formerly known as Kell-Muñoz, the three-story replacement school supports 21st century learning by integrating eco-friendly building solutions and modern technologies.

Completed in August 2013, and funded by Dallas ISD’s 2008 Bond Program, the $36 million campus welcomed students in time for the 2013-2014 academic year. Construction was originally scheduled to take at least 14 months, but the timeline was whittled down to just 10 months due to the efforts of Satterfield & Pontikes Construction (S&P), who condensed the construction timeframe down 30 percent by successfully managing more than 60 subcontractors and specialty trades. The compacted construction timeline was one reason the Billy Earl Dade school project was named Engineering News-Record Magazine’s 2015 Best of the Best K-12 Projects in the U.S.

Project officials planned and constructed the new middle school in accordance with environmental standards developed by the Texas Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), the first green building rating program designed specifically for K-12 schools. The 6^th through 8^th grade campus accommodates approximately 1,000 students in the South Dallas community near Fair Park, and was strategically intended to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint by focusing on smart design solutions that reduce negative impacts on the environment and minimize operating expenses.

The 213,000 sq. ft. structure features a 457-seat state-of-the-art auditorium and a two-story library that is equipped with hi-tech capabilities. Also included are upgraded athletic centers and angled classrooms to help improve academic interactions and traffic flow. A two-story entry atrium and a dining facility overlooking living foliage offer picturesque elements to the education space. The school’s exterior is comprised of multi-colored glass patterns that imitate African American quilt designs, which was intended to add character to the building and also emulate the local community’s focus on togetherness and pride.

“We all wanted to create something that was iconic for the neighborhood, create a building that reflected the heritage and pride in the community,” says Darren L. James, AIA, President and COO of KAI Texas. “The new middle school serves as a place where citizens can focus on building relationships that will help shape tomorrow’s civic leaders.”

The Dallas Independent School District is the 14^th largest school district in the nation and services approximately 157,000 students. Recognized for having multiple U.S. Blue Ribbon schools, 30 Exemplary schools, and 67 Recognized schools by the Texas Education Agency, Dallas ISD features district-wide programs that support elevated performance standards in testing, higher graduation rates and college incentive initiatives.

About KAI Texas

KAI Texas (www.KAITexas.com) is a Texas-based design-build firm headquartered in Dallas with an additional office in San Antonio. Founded in 1999 and led by President and COO Darren L. James, AIA, KAI Texas provides program management, construction management, architecture, and mechanical/ electrical/ plumbing engineering and planning services.

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