The Campus Architectural Teams of CATs are instrumental in providing guidance to the design and construction professionals as they work through the process of designing a new or modernized school. Each campus will be designed to reflect specific community needs based on the principles articulated in the district’s Educational Specifications and the bond budget authorized by the voters.
The CATs provide input on design considerations such as building layout, educational programming, outdoor learning spaces, collaboration space, media/library spaces and finishes. During the design process they meet on a regular basis. Some project elements are not eligible for input, such as health and safety codes and accessibility, as dictated by law or district policy. CAT members commit to review and accept the deliverable as prepared by the campus project team at key points of the design process. The CAT will sign off on each milestone deliverable, thereby “accepting and acknowledging” the work. Ultimately, the district is responsible for accepting the final design and authorizing construction.
Members are expected to remain with the team for the entire project (typically two to three years). These individuals have been identified to serve as the core group to advise on the project. However, meetings are open to your entire school community, and CAT members are expected to routinely brief their constituent groups about the progress of the project and bring issues and concerns from those groups to the CAT for resolution.
A CAT typically includes
- School Principal
- Instructional Staff
- Administrative Staff
- Students (for middle school and high school projects)
- Parents (including one representative from the Campus Advisory Council)
- Community Members
Working with the CATs are:
- Architect and Contractors
- Austin ISD Facility Planning, Design and Construction Staff
- Austin ISD Teaching and Learning Staff
- Austin ISD Maintenance/Service Center Staff
Below is an overview of the project implementation/design process and the CAT handbook that was developed to orientate their work. The CAT team rosters for each campus can be found on the respective modernization project pages.
CAT Documents:
- Campus Architecural Team (CAT) Handbook (PDF)
- Campus Architecural Team (CAT) Overview Presentation (PDF)
Case Studies of Modernized Schools:
- Joe Lee Johnson STEAM Academy – Round Rock, TX
- Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary School – Lytton Springs, TX
- Mary McLeod Beathune Elementary School of Literature and Technology – New Orleans, LA
Introduction to Educational Specifications:
Find upcoming CAT meetings by visiting the Bond Events Calendar.
