Travis Science Academy, formerly Travis Middle School, has undergone a renovation in more ways than one. Through a bond election in 2011, several schools in the Temple Independent School District went through a restoration and re-branding process. SHW Group (now Stantec) was the architect for all of the projects while American Constructors served as construction manager at Travis.
Kent Boyd, the assistant superintendent for Finance and Operations at Temple Independent School District, was charged with leading the improvements. “We flipped the school entrance from the east to the west which allowed us to add a new administration area, new library and a new secured double entry door. This double entrance created a great foyer space with a large blank wall. It was the perfect spot for a mural that could showcase the pride of being a Travis Science Academy Mustang.”
Another challenge was choosing a material with longevity in mind. “With thousands of students walking the halls, we needed something that was not only attractive, but extremely durable to withstand the wear and tear we typically see in school common areas. Wilsonart x You was the perfect solution.” Wilsonart Laminate has been an option in educational applications because of the ability to install, maintain and replace, if necessary, with ease. The mural was fabricated by Panel Specialists Inc. in Temple, Texas. The Wilsonart custom laminate surface material is on a PSI Wall Panel System. The 20- by 40-inch mural was made up of ten 4- by 10-foot panels joined together with a 1/16-inch reveal.
What surprised Boyd was how easy the process was. “We supplied a high resolution digital image and they gave us a dynamic and beautiful focal point that has generated positive feedback from both the students and the community.”