Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/10/26

Key Takeaways

  • Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD celebrated the opening of a new replacement campus for Wayside Middle School, funded by the district’s 2023 Bond Proposition A and designed in partnership with VLK.
  • Inspired by Marine Creek Middle School, the 180,000-square-foot facility expands capacity to 1,200 students and features three academic wings connected to a central media center.
  • Built in two phases to limit disruption, the school opened to students in spring 2026, with parking and athletic facilities currently under construction.

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023. The district partnered with VLK for the project’s design.

The school’s design was inspired by the prototype of nearby Marine Creek Middle School, paying tribute to the school’s history and sense of school pride while upgrading important amenities. The new facility expands the campus by 30,000 square feet to a total of 180,000 square feet, allowing a total capacity of 1,200 students. The building contains three academic wings connecting to a central media center, according to the news release.

“Through the support of the bond program and the dedicated work of district leadership, board, and staff, this vision has become a reality. The new Wayside Middle School is more than a building. It is a modern learning environment designed to support academic excellence, student engagement, and long-term success,” said Lauren Brown, VLK Principal. “This is a moment to celebrate what thoughtful planning and community trust can accomplish. Congratulations to EMS ISD on delivering a campus that will serve generations of students for years to come.”

According to the news release, construction occurred in two phases to minimize disruptions for students during the transition phase. Phase I consisted of the facility itself, which opened its doors to students at the beginning of the spring 2026 semester. Phase II will consist of developing school parking and athletics facilities, and is currently underway.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Carnegie Mellon University Receives $3B Gift to Launch New Campus

    Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently announced that it has received $3 billion—the largest individual gift in higher education history—from Citadel CEO and founder Ken Griffin, according to a news release.

  • Longwood University Hits Construction Milestone on New Music Education Facility

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of its new music education and performance facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with development and construction firm Skanska on the 63,800-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2028.

  • UPenn Announces Completion of New Veterinary Education Facility

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently finished construction on an 11,800-square-foot veterinary education building, according to a news release. The Gail P. Riepe Center for Advanced Veterinary Education is the first dedicated classroom facility at the New Bolton Center, a large-animal hospital and campus about 35 miles west of the campus proper.