Hutto ISD Gus Almquist Middle School
Location: Hutto, TX
Client: VLK Architects
Site Area: 26 Acres
Size: 160,000 SF
Set on a 26-acre site, Hutto ISD’s Gus Almquist Middle School is a 160,000-square-foot campus designed to foster connection, school pride, and seamless indoor–outdoor learning for the “Hippo Nation.” The campus is organized around a central courtyard that serves as the heart of the school, creating clear circulation, visual connection, and easy access to outdoor learning environments. This layout strengthens daily interaction between students, teachers, and the landscape while reinforcing a strong sense of community.
More than half of the classrooms overlook the courtyard, with many opening directly onto it, allowing learning to extend naturally beyond the classroom walls. The central open space functions as a flexible outdoor learning and gathering area, supporting collaboration, informal breakout activities, and school events. Coleman & Associates served as the landscape architect for the project, shaping an integrated campus environment where architecture and landscape work together to support education, engagement, and school identity.
Star of Distinction in Wellness, Exhibit of School Architecture 2025
