VLK Helps Dedicate New Texas Elementary School

By Eric Althoff

ROSENBERG, Texas—Designers from VLK Architects recently helped celebrate the dedication of the new Adriane Mathews Gray Elementary School for the Lamar Consolidated School District.

Gray Elementary School is designed for ease of student circulation throughout its campus, as well as to offer a secure academic environment. Gray Elementary offers six classroom pods for each grade that branch off from the school’s main corridor. Common areas are dedicated to collaborative learning, and outdoors the school features additional learning courtyards. At the campus center is its media center and event space.

Adriane Mathews Gray, an alumna of Lamar Consolidated, created Lunches of Love, a nonprofit devoted to feeding children in need. The organization continues to feed more than 4,000 children daily at the 18 Lamar CISD schools. Accordingly, the school was named in her honor.

“Adriane’s heart for students and her community is contagious, and it was very evident that she loved what she did,” said Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, Lamar CISD superintendent. “It was a true honor to know Adriane, and the service that Lunches of Love provides to the community is second to none.”

“We are extremely excited to be able to work with LCISD and Dr. Nivens to provide another outstanding learning facility to meet their tremendous growth needs on time and within the budget,” added VLK Managing Partner Todd Lien.

VLK operates from offices in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth. The firm specializes in the K-12 design and planning sector. Drymalla Construction Company was the general contractor on the project.