The new Mary Helen Berlanga Elementary School was conceived by the Corpus Christi Independent School District as a long-awaited replacement and upgrade to an aging community elementary school. This building is the latest, and most innovative educational building in CCISD history. Based on a prototype design that had been successfully implemented in another area, the Mary Helen Berlanga Elementary School was tailored to the site and context and loaded with sustainable design features to educate both students and the surrounding community about sustainability. Some of these features include energy efficient mechanical and electrical systems and fixtures, low-flow plumbing fixtures, reflective paving materials, a “cool” roof system, a solar hot-water heating system and a wind-turbine to produce renewable energy on-site. The building is also designed to be shared by the community and is equipped with security features to allow for access to the school’s “cafetorium”, library, restrooms, outdoor pavilion, and play fields. The completed facility is considered a unique tribute to long time Texas State Board of Education Member, Mrs. Mary Helen Berlanga, after whom it was named.
