Aria helps connect kids from Town of Addison’s new George H.W. Bush School to a schoolboy named George
The Objective_
With the opening of the George H.W. Bush Elementary School in fall 2011, Addison city officials knew they wanted to make this division of Dallas Independent School District a truly exceptional, one-of-a-kind educational institution.
The school has a number of features that already make it exceptional: gigantic, vibrant murals that educate as well as decorate; an open, airy environment with floor to ceiling windows; solar skylight tubes that funnel light from the roof into the building’s halls to save energy; and kid-tended gardens to teach children about their world.
Yet the Town felt something was still missing. Mr. Bush had, perhaps, been the most experienced man ever to hold Office. They wanted more than a president’s name out front — they wanted to really honor him in a way that made his example meaningful to children.
For solutions they engaged long-time creative partner Aria, to do its homework and provide answers.
The Solution_
After extensive research, and with the cooperation of The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Aria’s creative team brought a unique perspective and actionable ideas to the table.
We proposed using brightly colored childhood photos together with ideas that impacted Bush as a youth in order to connect him to the students — not as one more elder adult, but as one of them. Kindergarten through sixth graders would share the halls with a boy named George who played ball, did homework, and had fun just like them.
Some of the graphics proposed include, on a staircase landing, young George sitting on a stone wall; on the gymnasium walls will be George, as a young athlete, involved in various sports; and in the school library, a timeline showing him at various life stages from toddler to schoolboy, young naval aviator to family man and entrepreneur, President to adventurous skydiver.
In addition to these bold, brightly colored graphics, a 12 foot long shadowbox showcase, just inside the school’s entrance, will display photographs, souvenirs from his time in office, and memorabilia to include: a replica of his WWII flight jacket and a model of the torpedo bomber he flew, medals he was awarded after being shot down and rescued, a model of the aircraft carrier— CVN77— that bears his name, and other fascinating mementos.
The Results_
With the preliminary designs approved and the project ready to move forward, Town of Addison is now engaged in a fund-raising effort to realize this vision. It is hoped that work can begin as soon as summer 2012.
The project pays homage to Mr. Bush and life lessons learned that will help children understand presidents don’t spring full grown and ready for office… but begin life’s journeys as grade-schoolers who believe they can accomplish whatever they set their minds and hearts to.
