Rosedale School Modernization

The new Rosedale School is a state-of-the-art campus in central Austin serving students with special needs, ages 3 to 22. Rogers-O’Brien built it from the ground up, starting with the demolition of the former Lucy Read Pre-K to make way for a campus purpose-built for this community.

The design organizes the school into distinct neighborhoods, each tailored to a specific population: Medically Fragile, Behavioral, and Transition to Life in the Community. These neighborhoods connect through a central hub the team calls the “living room.” A partnership with Ascension Seton brought an on-site clinic to campus that serves both Rosedale students and the wider community, a coordination effort that required close collaboration among RO, Ascension Seton, and the Austin Independent School District (AISD).

Accessibility shapes the details. Patient lifts in classrooms and key areas allow teachers to safely move students who need additional physical support, so every child can participate fully. Murals of Barton Springs, food truck parks, and Lady Bird Lake bring the city inside, giving students a daily connection to the Austin landmarks just beyond their doors.

RO’s commitment extended well beyond construction. The team hosted a drive-by groundbreaking during the pandemic, topping-out celebrations, a teddy bear giveaway for students, and a BBQ for teacher move-in day. The campus park remains open after hours, an intentional choice that extends the school’s value to the surrounding neighborhood. Even with a start date in the early months of COVID-19, RO delivered a facility that has drawn praise from the community and the education sector, and a brighter future for special-needs education in Austin.