Blog

Public school districts across Texas are operating in a fundamentally different enrollment environment than they were a few years ago. In 2020, statewide enrollment dropped by 2.2%. While the two years following the pandemic saw modest recovery, growth has since slowed dramatically. Annual enrollment growth for 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 was just 0.2%, the smallest increase…

Industry Recognition That Reflects Who We Are As we look back on 2025, we’re proud of the recognition our firm received not simply for what we delivered, but for how we work, who we serve, and the culture we continue to build together. These honors affirm our commitment to people, purpose, and progress across every…

The adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) brings important updates that will influence building design, system choices, and overall project costs. These changes focus on greater energy efficiency, smarter controls, and long-term performance improvements. Understanding these requirements early in the planning process is critical to aligning design solutions with your project goals….

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Cindy Villarreal, AIA, RID, WELL AP, LEED AP, CDT to Principal at O’Connell Robertson. As Director of our Houston office, Cindy has been a driving force behind its growth, culture, and success, exemplifying leadership aligned with O’Connell Robertson’s mission-driven values. Over the past five years, her leadership…

Strong community communication is essential before the passage of a school bond program. Typical outreach efforts (such as public presentations, social media updates, and printed mailers) are important for sharing information, but they often overlook opportunities to build lasting trust and meaningful relationships within the community.  Expanding communication beyond the campaign phase and throughout the…