In order to help their special needs students develop both life and vocational skills, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District established this new facility to assist students transitioning from school to life after graduation.  The vision was centered on a home type atmosphere where students are able to practice domestic skills like cooking and cleaning, while developing other useful skills such as carpentry, pet care, and gardening.

Appointed with all the same functional spaces as a typical residence, there is also a computer lab and classroom, and a garage containing a small gym, carpentry area, and pet-washing station.  The useful spaces extend into the landscape where students can learn gardening in the accessible food garden, and landscaping throughout the rest of the yard.

This design was an opportunity to reinforce the existing residential neighborhood fabric, while embedding this beautiful educational program in that community

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3,454 GSF, new construction

Project Architect: John Pearcy, AIA

Harlingen, Texas

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Civil Engineer: M. Garcia Engineering

Landscape Design: SSP Design, LLC

Structural Engineer: Chanin Engineering

Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineer: Sigma MEP Engineering

General Contractor: Gerlach Builders, LLC d.b.a. Wil-Con Construction

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Photos by MCANTU IMAGE