Boerne Independent School District (ISD) opened the doors to the new Viola Wilson Elementary School, which will serve students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The district’s eighth elementary school in the expanding community northwest of San Antonio was designed by Pfluger Architects, a premier Texas-based architecture firm with extensive experience in educational facility planning, design, and construction administration.
Named after beloved educator Viola Wilson, who dedicated more than 40 years to teaching in Boerne, the new school honors her lifelong commitment to education and her passion for nature. The 97,151-square-foot campus welcomed more than 470 students on the first day of school in August.
Designed by Pfluger Architects and built concurrently with the adjacent residential development, the school uses innovative solutions that meet the educational needs of a growing student population while addressing the challenges of rapid expansion in the area.
“Our goal was to create a school that serves Boerne’s growing community while reflecting Mrs. Wilson’s legacy as a beloved and dedicated educator,” said Robyn Popa, managing principal of Pfluger’s San Antonio office. “This design brings students closer to nature and inspires exploration in spaces where curiosity can thrive.”
At the heart of the school is the district’s first open-concept elementary library, designed as a hub for collaboration and discovery. This central space connects to a makerspace and an art lab, both with views of an outdoor amphitheater for outdoor learning opportunities. The flexible design encourages student interaction through adaptable classrooms and shared spaces, while the “house” organization promotes safety. Each house contains two grade levels, enabling compartmentalization and quick emergency responses while fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for daily student life.
Inspired by the surrounding Hill Country landscape, the school features large windows that bathe the interior with ample natural light and frame views of oak trees, bringing the outdoors in and creating a calm, natural atmosphere for learning. The interior design mirrors this connection to nature, with a green, gold, and orange palette that reflects the changing seasons. Custom graphics throughout the school celebrate the area’s diverse flora and fauna. The architecture is also thoughtfully designed with an efficient footprint and creative strategies to manage high construction costs. A hybrid foundation system—part suspended slab, part slab-on-grade—was used to minimize site disturbance by adapting to the natural topography and providing a cost-effective solution for the district.
“This school represents more than just a building; it represents the future and all that Viola Wilson brought to the teaching profession, educating three generations of Boerne children throughout her career,” said Lizeth Thompson, Principal of Viola Wilson Elementary. “Our community came together to create a learning environment that inspires creativity and stimulates curiosity in our students.”
The school’s recent opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, bringing together the Wilson family, the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees, local officials, and community members.
