Bright idea: Austin warehouse flips to new school

AUSTIN – Most new schools are built from the ground up, but at the corner of Metric Blvd. and Rundberg Ln., construction crews are turning a 160,072-sf manufacturing plant into what will soon be the largest elementary school in Austin Independent School District (AISD).

The former Acuity Brands Lighting Inc. plant is at 2011 Rundberg Ln. The new school will be named North Central Elementary School No. 2 and will bring relief for Cook and Wooldridge Elementary Schools in North Austin.

The purchase and building conversion carry a $20 million price tag, and will be paid for with 2008 bond money. Crews have already gutted the inside and added skylights so every classroom will have natural light.

"Typically we would start out with 32 classrooms and plan for an eight classroom addition," said AISD Project Manager Scott Rouse. "Here we’re starting out with 57 classrooms."

The building will boast a larger-than-normal cafeteria and library. Rouse said the extra room will prevent the need for portables down the road.

The school is set to open in fall 2014.