Cullen Place
Elementary School

Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Area: 98,500 SF
Year: 2022
Role: Design Director
Team: Turner Ramirez Architects,
Luis Ayala Studio
Renderings : Playtime, Barcelona

Our client's vision was to create a prototype that allows them to build a school in phases, where classrooms can be added easily if demand and population increase. Our response was to think of a kit of parts. We developed Core pieces as the library, cafeteria and administration building, and Modular Classroom Pods.

Another requisite from the client was for the library to be equidistant and the focal point of the school; This led us to design classroom pods arranged on a square loop around a courtyard. This courtyard contains all playgrounds and outdoor spaces that are usually fenced off for security reasons, now naturally defined by the perimeter of our building. Here, children can play, run, and experience freedom in this vast, completely secure, safe courtyard.

For the interiors, our concept focused on the following idea.

Children live in a fantastic and creative space, where everything is possible, constantly shifting from daydreaming to having fun in the real world while learning from their experiences.

Our concept enhances this notion.

The concept takes cues from the beautiful Coastal Nature and how land surrounds the Bay of Corpus Christi. We use the built environment enclosing the courtyard as an analogy. In this fantastic world of creativity and possibilities, they can walk from Padre Island to Port Aransas to Gregory and back to Corpus Christi in minutes while enjoying the nature of these areas. The flora, fauna, and topography of these regions are different, so our materials palettes for each pod.  At any moment, they can explore the Bay by going to the courtyard, sailing a ship that will take them places. 

​This is Cullen Elementary's vision and ours to make kids' school experience the start of their fantastic life journey.