CAST Tech High School is San Antonio’s first high-tech magnet program for high school students. The concrete frame building was originally built in 1932 and included an auto shop and classrooms dedicated to a variety of vocational studies. The interior and exterior features were demoed in order to transform the historic school into the new CAST Tech High School.
A blended environment of teacher-led, peer collaboration, and independent-study learning spaces were designed to enhance the CAST Tech project-based curriculum. Instead of a full-fledged auditorium, a unique “learning staircase” acts as a dynamic gathering and presentation space while also transitioning between the first and second floor. The large pane windows will make use of dynamic glass that darkens when the harsh sunlight tries to shine through.
Overall, the underclassmen building has 15 classrooms and, to facilitate the tech-based students, the building fixtures and furniture all have power with hundreds of USB ports placed around the school. In the basement (the old fallout shelter), there are computer labs and a maker space.