Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Midland ISD Starts Construction on Two New High Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/15/25

The Midland Independent School District recently announced that it will break ground on two new high schools in Midland, Texas, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects, Lee Lewis Construction, and Satterfield & Pontikes to create a total of over 1.5 million square feet for 8,400 students in grades 9–12. Funding comes from a $1.4-billion bond that passed in 2024.

“Our goal was to design these schools to feel rooted in their community—both culturally and environmentally,” said Pfluger Architects Architectural Designer Casey Mirau. “The perforated metal scrim animates the façade by shifting light throughout the day, while the gradated patterns are a reminder of the ever-changing, wind-swept sand, connecting the buildings to their landscape.”

The school’s design will integrate Career and Technical Education labs to support hands-on learning and workforce readiness, the news release reports. Student input led designers to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces, and more than 90% of the building’s classrooms receive direct sunlight. Sustainability features include water management and ecological preservation strategies against the West Texas backdrop.

“The community’s rallying support for these schools is not just a financial commitment, it is a testament to the collective belief in the power of education and the role of thoughtful design in shaping that experience,” said Pfluger Architects Principal Design Director Christian Owens. “The program encompasses dedicated spaces for core academics, athletics, and fine and performing arts, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. We’re creating a next-generation learning environment that feels more like a college campus than a conventional secondary school.”

The ultimate goal was to balance a large, high-capacity school with an intimate, student-centered experience. According to the news release, both new campuses will offer identical opportunities and amenities with unique identities and color palettes.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.

  • 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.

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.