Texas K–12 District Breaks Ground on Tenth Elementary School

The Waxahachie Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the district’s tenth elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with VLK Architects on the project. Funding comes from a voter-approved bond from May 2023 that will also lead to the construction of a second facility, a replacement elementary school to meet the district’s recent enrollment growth.

The new school will serve students in grades PreK–5 and include amenities like an open-concept library and collaboration spaces. The school’s exterior will feature red brick, and the interior will use natural colors and circular abstract forms on ceilings, floors, and walls to create a sense of vibrancy, movement, and energy, according to the news release. According to the district website, the school will have capacity for about 800 students.

“With its focus on student collaboration and varied learning spaces, this new elementary is an exciting addition to Waxahachie ISD,” said VLK Principal Jonathan Aldis. “It also represents an important first step in following through with the hard work of the 2022 Long Range Planning Committee and preparing for Waxahachie ISD’s future.”

The district received donated land in the Saddlebook neighborhood on the city’s east side for the new school’s placement. Completion is scheduled for the school to open its doors in time for the 2024–25 academic year. The facility will measure in at 90,822 square feet and is tentatively slated to be known as Saddlebrook Elementary, according to online construction reports.

“Because of education, we will continue to be a shining star in this part of North Texas,” said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth. “Because of education, people will continue to want to live here and to build lives here and build their entire existence in this place. And our community said we want to continue to be that kind of place.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • ed tech conference calendar

    Upcoming Awards, Events & Webinars

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.