Tom Hatch, Hatch +Ulland Owen’s founder and senior partner, was interviewed by the Austin Business Journal, following the groundbreaking on H+UO’s design for Austin’s Acton Academy.

Architect Tom Hatch Talks School Design

Acton Academy broke ground on its new campus in East Austin on Oct. 15 and will open in summer 2013. The two-building, $3 million campus at 2201 Alexander Ave. encompasses 15,600 square feet and is located adjacent to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s MLK train station. The general contractor is American Constructors and the architectural firm is Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects.

Acton Academy is a private school for elementary, middle school and high school students, which incorporates Montessori and Socratic teachings.

The Austin Business Journal asked Tom Hatch, principal of Hatch + Ulland Owen about the project and other educational designs the firm has done.

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Groundbreaking ceremonies for H+UO’s Acton Academy design were held October 15th on the site of the new East Austin campus. Boards with renderings of H+UO’s design vision played key supporting roles, but the stars of the ceremony were the students, who not only “broke ground”, but collected samples of the ground as mementos.

From KXANTV

We are excited to announce that the ground-breaking ceremony signaling the start of construction on Hatch + Ulland Owen’s design of a new campus for Acton Academy will be held October 15, 2012.  The new campus of the nationally honored blended school has a targeted opening of August 2013 to receive its first class of students.

Acton Academy is moving forward quickly with plans for the new four-acre campus in East Austin, adjacent to Capital Metro’s MLK train station, which will replace its current temporary location on the grounds of Acton School of Business.  Tom Hatch, of Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects, has been working closely with Laura and Jeff Sandefer, co-founders of both Acton Academy and Acton School of Business, and Kaylie Dienelt Reed, Acton Academy’s director, with the design of this truly unique and forward-thinking educational complex.  The school’s design centers on its students, combining the joy and intimacy of a one-room school house with the magic of current technology, facilitating Acton’s project-based curriculum, which focuses on lively mentoring, critical thinking and self mastery; guiding students with their adventures in learning.

The first phase of the new 15,600 ft ² campus will have elementary, middle, and high school facilities, with flexible spaces that can be adjusted to the needs of the evolving programs and curriculum.  The private elementary and middle school, specializing in Montessori and Socratic teaching methods, plans to expand its curriculum to include high school education within the next two years. Tom Hatch has worked  with the Sandefers on a number of projects, including the Acton School of Business and the restoration of the Pease Mansion, developing a keen understanding of  the goals, needs and processes related to a Sandefer project. Tom Hatch noted that, “…we have built up a mutual trust with Laura and Jeff, based on our team’s ability to listen, interpret, and follow through with commitments.”

The Acton Academy’s mission is to inspire each child and parent who enters their doors to find a calling that will change the world, and was recently named by Innosight Institute as one of the top blended elementary schools in America. If you are interested in learning more about how fresh air and education coincide, please visit the Acton Academy website, www.actonacademy.org.