Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from three Leander ISD high schools – Cedar Park, Vandegrift, and Vista Ridge – are getting real-world experience, thanks to the architecture firm selected to design the new Early Childhood Center (ECC) as part of the 2023 Bond.
“It was a complete shocker that we got this opportunity. And I’m so grateful for it,” said Dakota Mroski, an interior design student from Cedar Park High School. “We’ve never really seen anything so hands-on before.”
O’Connell Robertson says the firm got the idea to collaborate with students on a space at the ECC when they attended the Leander ISD State of the District in October.
“They had student work out in the lobby for us to see,” said Jayna Duke, director of interior design at O’Connell Robertson. “The student that presented, Brooke, was there, and she was able to stand up and talk about her project, and it was just impressive.”
Duke says, after the event, the firm contacted the district and O’Connell Robertson has been collaborating with the students ever since.
Students had the opportunity to meet with real clients – the leaders of the ECC – to hear their ideas and learn about the needs of preschool students. Then, they were tasked with crafting a vision to support that. The firm gave the students advice and support along the way.
“We met with them about a week ago to check in on progress. We were blown away,” said Duke.
ECC leaders were also impressed when students presented their concepts in February.
“They did a great job at creating distinct options that beg different questions or different opportunities. So they gave the owner a really hard decision, which is great.”
In the end, ECC leaders decided to merge elements of each of the students’ designs into one.
Students say this experience has meant a lot to them.
“It’s such a great opportunity to have in high school because this is stuff college kids are doing or even above. So it’s really cool that a high school team can make something so big and impact so many people,” said Mroski.
