Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas High School Debuts Arts Program Expansion

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/02/21

Melissa High School in Melissa, Texas, recently completed a 65,000-square-foot expansion in conjunction with the Perkins&Will Dallas studio. The new space includes a new practice gymnasium, an extension of the student union, a new performance theater, and an addition to the fine arts program.

Perkins&Will Melissa High School

The fine arts program addition includes a new entryway, lobby, 1,000-seat auditorium, and other amenities like rehearsal spaces, a percussion hall outfitted with live recording capabilities, and a scene shop. One goal of the project was to highlight the district’s commitment to and passion for the arts.

Perkins&Will Melissa High School

A design narrative explains how Perkins&Will worked with the school’s existing architecture, tying together old and new. A “garden zone” of native plants complements the school’s natural landscape with the main lobby entrance, as well as serving as a gathering place for event overflow. The fine arts wing was designed to be as flexible as possible regarding spacing, lighting, acoustics, and more.

Perkins&Will Melissa High School
Photos courtesy of Charles Davis Smith

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.