The High Island Shelter project is a thoughtful blend of a school gymnasium and an emergency shelter. The facility serves both the High Island community as a hurricane shelter and on a daily basis, the students of the High Island Independent School District. The project was conceived in response to Hurricane Ike and was administered by the General Land Office (GLO) through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

LAN designed the facility for Galveston County, TX as part of funds provided for redevelopment due to Hurricane Ike. The facility provides temporary shelter for local residents and a base location for first responders during tropical storm-related events. The new facility is utilized by the High Island Independent School District as an auxiliary gymnasium facility.

As a shelter, the building has a 100% redundant diesel generator that stores enough diesel fuel to run for an extended period of time. The building also complies with FEMA storm shelter requirements by being able to withstand winds of 190 mph. As a school facility, the building was also designed to match the aesthetic of the adjacent school facilities and function seamlessly as a school facility.