Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500. The project broke ground in April 2024 and opened to students for the current semester.

The district partnered with program management firm HPM for the entire project. It also partnered with Bartlett Cocke as general contractor, O’Connell Robertson as architect, and Rabaa Kistner as the Geotech and construction materials testing consultant, the news release reports.

Campus amenities include academic classrooms, study rooms and lab spaces, a large commons area, a cafeteria featuring a 12x8-foot video wall, outdoor dining and study areas, and an administrative suite. The school offers a high-school and college-level curriculum, allowing students to graduate with both a high-school diploma and an associate’s degree.

“This facility represents more than just classrooms and labs. It’s a space where students can explore, grow and prepare for their futures,” said HPM’s senior manager of design and construction, Denish Sonani. “Collaborating with the Round Rock ISD to bring this vision to life reinforces our shared commitment to strengthening learning environments that serve students and the community for years to come.”

The project is part of the district’s 2018 voter-approved bond program to fund new construction, renovations, and infrastructure improvements around the district, according to the news release. HPM also partnered with the district for its 2024 bond program and is currently designing more than 15 associated projects.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. RIT Saunders College of Business's Lowenthal Hall Addition has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Lawrence Group Announces Three New Hires

    Integrated planning and design firm Lawrence Group, based in St. Louis, Mo., recently welcomed three new staff members, according to a news release.