Designing Open Concept School Buildings that Utilize Natural Landscapes and Elements

VLK Architects is a north Texas based architecture firm that specializes in education settings and prioritizes the client’s needs and priorities. When Dr. Jim Chadwell, then superintendent of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, partnered with VLK to design the new district administration building, he knew exactly what he wanted the building to be – a flexible, open-concept space that utilizes natural elements and the surrounding woods to create an environment people felt good in. The VLK team worked closely with Dr. Chadwell, taking the time to meet all of his goals, for no more cost than a regular education building. Together, they created a legacy of prioritizing whole health and nature within the community through their designs. Dr. Rhea sits down with Dr. Chadwell and Senior Associate at VLK who headed this project, Erjon Troqe, to share the design process and why intentionality and nature-based design is so important.Dr. Jim Chadwell was born in Fort Worth, Texas and earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees all from Texas Christian University. During his 31-year career in public education, he served in various teaching and administrative roles including teacher, coach, high school principal, executive director for elementary and secondary instruction, and superintendent. He served the last 14 years as superintendent of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, where he had several accomplishments, including overseeing two bond programs bringing in new schools, a career and technology center, a new district administration building with a Discovery Lab Learning Center and renovations to every facility in the district. He also led the implementation of the EMS ISD Police Department district-wide, and the LiiNK Project in all EMS ISD elementary schools.Retiring from the district in January of 2025, Dr. Chadwell began his next chapter as an Educational Planner and Senior Associate for VLK Edge architecture team, bringing to the firm substantial experience as a leader in Texas public school districts.Erjon Troqe was born in Tirana, Albania. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in urban planning from the Polytechnic University of Tirana. Erjon has practiced architecture in Texas with a specialization in design for the last 21 years. The first 9 years, he focused primarily in education settings working on mixed use and higher education spaces for TCU and SMU. For the last 13 years, he has dedicated his work to public education architecture around various regions of Texas.