The Houston Academy for International Studies (HAIS) is part of a group of recently created high schools in the U.S. by the Asia Society with support of the Gates Foundation. The schools “provide a rigorous, engaging education for students in predominately low-income and minority communities to prepare them for college, the changing workforce, and a lifetime of learning.”
The Houston Independent School District decided in March of 2009 to close an elementary school and use it to house HAIS. Our design goal was to establish an identity for HAIS. We decided to reinforce the existing courtyard as a gathering place, renovate the library as the college education center, and enlarge the athletic room. We also created classroom enhancements for technology and converted pre-k classrooms into science labs. We were are able to adapt the elementary school into a successful early college campus.
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