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

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.

  • CU-Lock Haven Receives $1.75M Gift for New Entrepreneurship, Media Center

    Commonwealth University-Lock Haven in Lock Haven, Penn., recently received a $1.75-million donation from entrepreneur and alumnus Nicholas Subich ’17, according to a university news release. The funds will go toward establishing the Nicholas Subich Center for Entrepreneurship and Media, a technology-driven hub for innovation and experiential learning.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.