VLK Architects and Royse City ISD Break Ground on Bobby Summers Middle School

On March 7, VLK Architects joined with Royse City ISD students, staff, administrators, and community members to celebrate breaking ground on the district’s new Bobby Summers Middle School.  The school’s namesake was also in attendance to commemorate this new campus. This facility is the largest project included in the district’s 2018 bond and will serve 1,200 middle school students in grades six through eight.

Royse City

“Through VLK|LAUNCH, a committee was formed to design this school that consisted of staff, parents, community members, and most importantly our students. The design is going to be safe, smart, modern, and efficient,” said Kevin Worthy, Superintendent, Royse City ISD. “From the secure interior courtyard, to the community friendly extracurricular facilities, we hope that it will spark creativity and passion for learning in every child.”

The new building is designed to promote outdoor engagement with a centrally located secure courtyard and large windows allowing day light throughout. The multipurpose courtyard area located just outside of the cafeteria functions as a staging area and will further serve as a meeting space for large events, classes, and play space. Multipurpose furniture will be placed on tracks that can be moved based on the space needed. The design is specified to be environmentally friendly by using a rainwater collection tank to further aid in landscaping.

Bobby Summers Middle School is expected to open its doors to students in August 2020.

Featured

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

  • Kraus-Anderson Completes Improvements at Minnesota Middle, High Schools

    Construction management, real estate, and risk management firm Kraus-Anderson recently announced that it has finished two K–12 renovation projects in Minnesota, according to a news release.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.