VLK Architects Tops Out New High School for Fort-Worth School District

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently celebrated a topping out ceremony for its new high school alongside project partners VLK Architects and Core Construction, according to a news release. Eagle Mountain High School will be the district’s fourth high school and is scheduled to open in time for the 2024–25 academic year.

The news release reports that the campus will feature an academic wing, outdoor dining space, fine arts space, and athletics facilities, all accessible via a sky bridge. The facility will complement the site’s topography and include abundant natural light and panoramic views. The campus also features a library featuring a variety of learning environments and a covered outdoor art patio, while a natural pond on-site will feature a dock for irrigation and use by science classes.

“Creating an environment in which young learners thrive in alignment with EMS ISD’s mission is one of the goals of Eagle Mountain High School’s design,” said VLK Principal Lauren Brown. “The journey a student takes from a freshman to a graduating senior will help shape the future and define a path to success and achievement. The walls and halls are just a backdrop to the teaching and learning taking place; the design should not hinder but bolster the robust curriculum provided by EMS ISD. It is an honor to be part of the team that transformed a site with over 630,000 square feet of building area into a new learning environment that will be here for decades.”

VLK Architects collaborated with teachers and staff to create a campus design in line with “a deep understanding of the district’s educational goals, philosophy, pedagogical practices, and [to] create a conceptual framework of next-generation learning environments,” according to the news release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • 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.

  • California District Debuts New High-School CTE Center

    The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CTE Center at Analy High School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the facility’s design and GCCI for its construction, and funding came from local Measure A bond funds.

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.