Steele & Freeman completes construction on Keller Independent School District’s 440,000 Square Foot Timber Creek High School

Construction has been completed by Steele & Freeman, Inc. on Keller Independent School District’s Timber Creek High School.  At $81,304,000 and 440,000 square feet, construction was begun in March 2008 and the project achieved substantial completion on August 11, in time for Keller Independent School District to move in furniture, train staff, and to prepare for new students and the first day of the school year.  Timber Creek High School, built to house 2500 students, garnering the #20 spot for Texas Construction magazine’s “Top 40 Projects – Top Starts of 2008”.  Hired as Construction Manager by Keller ISD, Steele & Freeman has completed nearly fifty major projects for Keller ISD, one of the fastest-growing school districts in Texas and the nation, since 1998.  Keller ISD has been on a multi-year school-building program to accommodate the population growth of the community.    Of its 36 campuses, 21 have been built since 1998, and all those schools have been built by Steele & Freeman.

The school will house freshmen and sophomores this year, in order to alleviate transferring juniors and seniors to a new school. 

The high school was designed and built with many ‘green’ features, including the use of many windows to achieve “daylighting” or the use of natural daylight; especially from north-facing windows.  There is a two-story atrium entry and hallways in common areas and classroom wings are well-lit by the use of clerestory windows.  The two-story wall of windows in the library means that little or no electricity will be needed for lighting during daylight hours.  The field house features a second floor workout room with a one-story wall of windows that offers a prime view of the football field.  Another green strategy used in construction of the school was the use of regional and locally available materials such as locally produced brick.  A rainwater harvesting system collects rainwater in a retention pond until it is used to irrigate the playing fields.  The building’s heating and cooling is accomplished by a geothermal system.  Other notable features are an acoustically engineered theatre, band and choir rooms, a gymnasium with a mezzanine, a fine arts wing, multiple classroom wings, a science wing housing eight science laboratories, and administration area.  There is a separate field house with workout rooms and locker rooms, surrounded by lit playing fields and practice fields.