Harper tells GlobeSt.com that school districts across North Texas, particularly those in fast-growing suburban areas, have been playing catch up when it comes to meeting demand for educational facilities. “Over the past several years, many suburban areas could not keep up with the number of people coming in,” he notes.

Consider this: all five counties that comprise the Metroplex (Dallas, Collin, Denton, Rockwall and Tarrant counties) grew rapidly over the past decade.

Collin County, for example, saw its population explode by a whopping 61%, while Denton County grew 51% and Rockwall County burst the seams with an increase of nearly 89%, according to the US Census Bureau. Dallas County had the smallest population growth, and even then it grew 10.5%, while Tarrant County expanded by 23.8%.

On average, about 25% of the population in North Texas is under 18 – which translates to roughly 1 million students. Construction activity is occurring at all levels, from elementary to high school, according to Harper.

In Murphy, for example, Cadence McShane is working on a $37 million high school for Plano Independent School District. Named McMillen High School, the two-story, 282,000 square foot educational campus is located a fast-growing community in Collin County.

It will offer 67 instructional spaces, 10 comprehensive science laboratories, band and music spaces, library, competition and practice gymnasiums, full-service cafeteria and kitchen, in addition to several on-campus athletic venues such as a practice softball and baseball field, batting cages, a running track and practice football fields.

Plano ISD's 2008 Bond Program, which voters passed on May 10, 2008, includes $490 million for construction, renovation and technology initiatives. The Plano ISD is comprised of 39 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, five high schools and three senior high schools and
serves over 44,000 students.

The design and size of the educational facilities is largely dependent on the curriculum goals of the school district, Harper notes. “It varies from district to district,” he says, pointing out that some schools districts in North Texas prefer smaller facilities with smaller classrooms. Other districts are taking a distinctly different approach and are designing larger facilities, so-called “mega-schools”, in an effort to better manage their resources.

“In the past, we never used to fathom a $100 million facility, but we’re building some of them,” Harper says. In Red Oak, for example, Cadence McShane recently completed Red Oak High School, a $66.5 Million, 340,000-square-foot high school facility owned and operated by Red Oak Independent School District.

Designed by Dallas-based Corgan Associates Inc., the new three-story Red Oak High School offers 120 instructional spaces, a large performing arts center, full-service cafeteria, digitally equipped library, arts studios, dance and theater areas and comprehensive science laboratories.

The campus also features an athletics wing with a 25,000-square-foot field house, large competition gymnasium, two additional sports gymnasiums, weight and practice rooms and coaching and administrative offices.

School districts are designing and constructing facilities that focus on sustainability, Harper says. Red Oak High School, for example, features geothermal heating and cooling system. “From the school district’s perspective, there’s a higher initial cost upfront with energy efficient systems, but the operating expenses come way down, and the system pays for itself," he contends. "The district can focus those funds toward teachers and curriculum.”

Technology has also transformed today’s educational facilities. “With technology, there are vast differences between the schools we built 25 years ago versus today – it’s phenomenally different,” Harper notes.