A school emerges from the hill country landscape
This new 850-student elementary school serves the growing needs of the Dripping Springs community. Nestled in the hill country, Cypress Springs Elementary School celebrates the role of nature in education and daily life, providing students and staff with opportunities to connect with the outdoors. The center for learning and innovation is located adjacent to the entry of the school, welcoming all to the campus and inspiring all to learn.

Within each grade level pod, dedicated collaboration spaces create opportunities for student engagement outside of the traditional classroom. The grade level pods also follow the site’s natural topography, and all classrooms have sweeping views of the tree canopy beyond. The thoughtfully selected material palette offers a calming environment for learning, bringing the outside in through wood tones and limestone accents.

Gestures to nature
The building’s lower level is clad in Texas limestone, giving a solid visual base to the wood masses and folded metal roof panes above. Interior railings, wall coverings, and a natural color palette all connect playfully to nature. Abstracted leaf perforated railings and nooks provide unique experiences for students.

Lessons in Sustainability
The school building itself is used as an active learning tool for sustainability. Rainwater is collected in large cisterns visible to all students and is used in lessons on the importance of conservation. Water cisterns are also used to irrigate the site. In addition to rainwater collection, a geothermal ground source heat pump system was used for both heating and cooling of the campus to provide an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to regulate the temperature of the building.

Fostering belonging within the environment
Students will note the welcoming, communal feel offered by designing at an appropriate scale for students, as well as providing ample collaboration spaces to promote connection. Each classroom pod is equipped with a collaboration area for flexible student learning and social development.

Design: Corgan
Contractor: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors
Civil Engineer: Walker Partners
Landscape: BluFish Collaborative
Structural: Datum Engineers
MEP: DBR Engineers
Photography: courtesy of Corgan