Charles M. Goodson Middle School

Client: Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Completion Date: 2001
Construction Cost: $18,362,311
Services: Planning, Design, Construction Administration
TASA/TASB Awards: Design, Value
Accolades: 2002

This prototype middle school built to house 1,350 students has a compact and efficient design which allows for minimization of student travel distances between class changes. The organization of this plan allows for easy orientation of whereabouts in the facility. The administration and cafeteria on the first floor and library on the second floor are the central focus of the compact school. The cafeteria is surrounded by two interior paved courtyards which allow natural light into classrooms. One courtyard serves as a student area during lunch period and the other is reserved for art activities and displays.

Key Points:
In 1999, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD asked two firms (Bay and SHW) to design a middle school with identical floor space, specifications, budget and finishes. Bay’s compact and efficient design came in the least expensive, more than $900,000 under the other middle school design. Design repeated once by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.