Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Texas Middle School Emphasizes Openness, Flexibility

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 08/21/19

A Texas district recently opened its sixth middle school. Marine Creek Middle School, part of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District, consists of a two-story, 165,000 square-foot campus, serving students in grades 6-8.

A Texas district recently opened its sixth middle school. Marine Creek Middle School, part of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District, consists of a two-story, 165,000 square-foot campus, serving students in grades 6-8.

The architectural design, by Texas-based VLK Architects, uses non-traditional classrooms and science labs with flexible furnishings and movable tables with frosted glass serving as writable surfaces to create student collaboration spaces. The media center sports an open-access, multi-functional space with wireless technology throughout, including a large-format video wall for large-group instruction. A "think tank" area overlooking the library provides a glass-walled space where students are encouraged to collaborate, while still allowing teachers to oversee activities. An outdoor learning courtyard was designed to help bridge the gap between academics and the social and emotional well-being of students.

District stakeholders, including school leaders, teachers, students and families, told designers during its planning phases that they wanted to incorporate an architecture style true to Texas. That translated to ample transparency for connecting interior and exterior spaces, the optimization of natural light for instructional areas and use of outdoor learning environments.

A "think tank" area overlooking the library provides a glass-walled space where students are encouraged to collaborate, while still allowing teachers to oversee activities.

Just west of the campus is a walkway to the outdoor recreation area surrounding Marine Creek Lake, which is operated by the local water district. Eventually the district expects to extend the walkways to the lake and an associated trail system, which will eventually connect into the Trinity Trails in central Fort Worth.

"The vision of the school was focused on collaboration, efficiencies, safety, and quality instructional spaces," said Superintendent Jim Chadwell, in a statement. "It's certainly a beautiful facility and, as nice as all of the aesthetic comments are, a school is first and foremost designed for learning. We have created the framework for excellence to happen in this building and now we are excited to see the students and staff build on that framework for success."

The first day of classes at the school was Aug. 19.

Marine Creek Middle School administrative staff includes Principal Danny Knowles, Assistant Principal Christie Warden and Assistant Principal Whitney Wheeler.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Colorado School District Breaks Ground on Unified PK–12 Campus

    The Haxtun School District No. Re-2J in Haxtun, Colo., recently announced that ground has been broken on a renovation/addition project that will unite its two schools, Haxtun Elementary and Haxtun Jr/Sr High School, according to a news release.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.