Expansion and Renovation Completed at Byron Nelson HS in North Texas

An expansion and renovation of Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, Texas was recently completed. The three-story, 75,000 square-foot expansion and renovation of the campus provides added capacity to a rapidly growing population in the Northwest Independent School District. The project was headed by Perkins & Will.

Byron Nelson High School. Courtesy of Perkins and Will.

The design emphasizes ‘learning on display’ with visibility to programs such as the school’s new Engineering Lab, a combination robotics and shop space; the Architecture Studio, which serves as a model making area; and the Biomedical Science program. The course areas are located near main hallways with glass walls to offer direct views inside so students, parents and visitors can observe classes.

Byron Nelson High School. Courtesy of Perkins and Will.

In addition, the Culinary Arts program was expanded and moved near the school’s bistro, which allows students to receive practicum experience, showcase their skills, and provide a service to students, staff and community.

Byron Nelson High School. Courtesy of Perkins and Will.

The expansion and renovation includes:

  • Collaboration areas to encourage one-on-one and small-group learning sessions.
  • All classrooms and labs have windows for natural light and views.
  • A reconfigured lobby to provide a secure entrance.
  • Renovated orchestra and band halls.
  • Renovated athletic locker and shower facilities.
  • Added athletic support spaces including PE lockers and restrooms, laundry facilities, a conference room, athletic offices.
  • A monumental staircase overlooking an outdoor space.

Hallway messaging and graphics showcase the school’s values, mascot, history, and the story of professional golfer and namesake Byron Nelson.

Perkins and Will took steps to make the project, collaborative, and environmentally friendly, according to a design brief. “Other sustainable steps taken include the school’s flooring, a no-wax solution of Forbo linoleum, which is bio-based and biodegradable, made with renewable and recycled ingredients, has CO2-neutral production, is naturally antimicrobial, and wax-free,” the design brief continues. “Non-VOC paint was also specified, as well as energy-friendly lighting, and high-efficiency HVAC systems were designed for this project.”

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.

  • Moline-Coal Valley School District to Consolidate Two Schools into New Facility

    The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Moline, Ill., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff from two existing schools, according to local news. Robert Ontiveros Elementary School will serve as the new home for Lincoln-Irving Elementary School and Willard Elementary School.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.