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

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Classical building columns display digital data streams

    The Campus Nervous System: Why Facilities Risk Is Now a Leadership Issue in Higher Education

    Facility performance now intersects with safety, compliance, on-campus experience, institutional reputation, and financial resilience. That places it firmly on the leadership agenda.