DALLAS, TX — After years of failed efforts to replace and renovate aging facilities to align with anticipated enrollment, Midland, Texas, successfully passed a $1.4 billion bond in 2024. Now, as part of that bond, Midland Independent School District (ISD) — in collaboration with Pfluger Architects, Satterfield & Pontikes, and Lee Lewis Construction — is breaking ground on two new high schools totaling more than 1.5 million square feet.
Slated to be completed in August 2028, Midland High School and Legacy High School will each accommodate 4,200 students in 9th through 12th grade. A key design component is the integration of Career and Technical Education, with specialized labs accommodating 12 of the 14 TEA-recognized programs of study. These spaces are incorporated to support hands-on learning, industry-aligned training, and future workforce readiness.
The design of Midland’s new high school buildings is rooted in the core principles of community, tradition, and pride.
“Our goal was to design these schools to feel rooted in their community — both culturally and environmentally,” said Casey Mirau, Architectural Designer at Pfluger Architects. “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.”
Student input also shaped the design of Midland’s new high schools. Many students shared that they spend most of their time outdoors when not in class. That insight guided the design toward an integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, giving students more freedom to move, gather, and learn. Over 90 percent of educational areas have direct daylight from either north or south, maximizing daylight without overheating the interior spaces.
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
|---|
| SITECH Tejas |
| SITECH SE Texas |
“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 Christian Owens, Principal Design Director at Pfluger Architects. “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.”
Sustainability is embedded in the design through a series of water management and ecological preservation strategies tailored to the unique conditions of West Texas. The Midland High School site is a former golf course, where the layout works around more than 300 mature trees, many of which were moved and are being cared for in an onsite nursery until they can be replanted after construction. Both campuses incorporate native plantings and low-maintenance landscape design to conserve water and reduce ongoing maintenance costs. Intentional early planning for high-performance systems by Pfluger and performance consultants CMTA will help Midland ISD weigh tradeoffs, set priorities, and make decisions that shape how these schools will function efficiently long term.
For Midland ISD, these campuses also represent a shift in how learning environments are organized. Collaboration spaces — flexible, open areas where students can work in small groups or teams — ranked as a top priority during the charrette and became a defining design element. These spaces give students and teachers more freedom to engage, share ideas, and build community in ways that traditional classrooms do not always allow. Shared spaces like the dining commons and media center are centrally located and accessible from all parts of campus, supporting a sense of connection throughout the school.
The planning for these projects included a 100-member citizen, staff, and student committee that collaborated on every detail of the final designs, ensuring the new campuses reflect the needs of Midland’s students, teachers, and the community.
| Your local Case Construction Equipment Inc dealer |
|---|
| Nueces Power Equipment |
| ASCO Equipment |
“These new campuses will provide improved facilities to support Midland ISD’s goal of delivering an exceptional educational experience, enhance safety and security, accommodate enrollment growth, and allow for the implementation of grade reconfiguration,” Midland ISD Superintendent Stephanie Howard said. “Thank you to the Midland community for recognizing the importance of investing in our children's education and their future.”
