Ann Richards Middle School

Kell Muñoz Architects organized this 130,000 SF middle school as an educational village containing nine separate buildings: an Administration and Library building; a Dance, Orchestra & Choral building; a Special Classrooms building; an Eighth Grade Classroom building; a Seventh Grade Classroom building; a Sixth Grade Classroom building; a Gymnasium; a Band Hall and a Cafeteria.

The firm clustered these buildings around a paved Plaza that is reminiscent of town squares common to the region. The "human" scale of the Plaza is enhanced by a gazebo, trees and the use of color on building exteriors. Kell Muñoz Architects' use of a village concept also breaks from common, large-scale, institutional building forms and creates a human campus atmosphere. The school's Plaza serves as the focal point for community exchange, gathering and repose.