Texas District Breaks Ground on K–8 Tech Campus

The Manor Independent School District in Manor, Texas, recently broke ground on a new, technology-focused campus that will serve students in grades K–8. The future facility will measure in at two stories and 116,000 square feet, and it will have a capacity of about 800 students.

Amenities are set to include a large media center, two art rooms, three maker spaces, two gymnasiums, a performing arts classroom, and student collaboration areas and flex space, according to a news release.

“Not only is this a momentous occasion for Manor ISD because it marks the first step in building a new, state-of-the-art facility for our district’s scholars, but it is groundbreaking because it will be the first campus of its kind in our region,” said Manor ISD Superintendent Dr. Andre D. Spencer. “This campus will serve K–8 students under one roof, which is a rare educational model in the public school system in our state. We are excited about the many proven benefits of this model, including lower levels of anxiety among middle schoolers.”

Funds for the project come from a $280-million bond package that local voters approved in November 2019. The package focused on projects that would accommodate student growth; upgrade and repair existing facilities; and improve transportation, technology and security. Enrollment projections predict that the district is set to grow by 2.5 to 5 percent per year for the next ten years.

The district is partnering with HPM as program manager in charge of project management, quality control and preconstruction services. It’s also partnered with architecture firm ADM Group, Inc. and construction manager at risk Lee Lewis Construction Inc.

“HPM is proud to lead Manor ISD and our project partners through the development of this exciting project,” said HPM Senior Program Manager Andrew Betts. “This campus will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate technology and interactive learning within nine levels of education, all on one campus. This ceremony is a symbol of Manor ISD’s commitment to providing the best educational resources for the scholars within this community.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Tennessee Tech Starts Construction on New ACME Building

    Tennessee Tech University recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Advanced Construction and Manufacturing Engineering (ACME) Building on its campus in Cookeville, Tenn., according to university news. The $89.6-million facility is the second in a recent expansion of the College of Engineering’s buildings on campus. It’s currently scheduled to open at the end of 2028.

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • Extron, CENTEGIX Partner for Comprehensive School Security Solution

    Professional audiovisual solutions provider Extron recently announced a partnership with CENTEGIX, which provides rapid incident response technology, to integrate two of their top products in the name of school safety.

Digital Edition