Fort Worth, Texas – As one of the state’s leading K-12 architects, VLK Architects consistently makes Texas public education one of our top priorities. Managing Partner, Todd Lien, has exemplified this commitment as a member of the TASA School Facilities Committee tasked with Proposing Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter
CC, Commissioner's Rules Concerning School Facilities. The 22 member Committee is making recommendations for updates, and to offer suggestions for alternative methods of compliance with the new standards. Included on the TASA committee were Architects, Superintendents, educators, school administrators, students, school facilities personnel, contractors, board members, Police officers, and the Chamber of Commerce members from across the state.
“Being a part of this committee was a great experience to work with education leaders across the state to help shape the future of educational facilities for years to come,” said Todd Lien, Managing Partner, VLK Architects, Inc.
The TASA committee’s goal was to present standards that do not duplicate existing statutory or regulatory requirements while providing a flexible framework that will allow districts to adapt as education continues to evolve. Topics related to instructional design, FFE, flexibility, technology, and class size were considered as well as minimum standards for life safety, security, environmental stewardship, inclusive design, and healthy buildings.
These new guidelines were proposed and will take effect on September 1 of this year. The proposed revisions would provide an end date for the current school facilities standards rule, and create a new rule to implement the safety standards required by Senate Bill 11, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019. These guidelines are not comprehensive changes to the current 19 TAC Chapter 61 standards and are available for comment currently through TEA’s public comment website. The comment period of these proposed new guidelines intends to gather public opinions and to prepare revisions to be presented to the Commissioner for consideration.
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About VLK Architects: With offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston, Texas, VLK Architects provides architecture, planning, and interior design services to K-12, higher education, corporate, and institutional clients throughout Texas. For more information please visit our website: www.vlkarchitects.com or contact Julia Dillon at 817-635-1206 or jdillon@vlkarchitects.com.
