KAI joined Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) officials, community leaders and project partners on May 21 to break ground on the new Seagoville PK-8 Campus in Seagoville, Texas. Part of the 2020 Bond Program, the $53 million campus is a transformational project designed to address enrollment growth while expanding educational opportunities for students across Southeast Dallas.
The campus represents Dallas ISD’s innovative approach to addressing enrollment growth by aligning educational programming, campus planning and facility design to create expanded opportunities for students.
For Catherine Dalton, AIA, RID, LEED AP BD+C, K-12 Market Leader and Principal at KAI, the milestone highlights the unique responsibility designers have in shaping educational experiences.
“As designers, we have the privilege and responsibility of helping shape the environments where students learn, grow and discover their potential,” said Dalton. “Seeing this vision move from planning to construction is especially meaningful because this project represents more than a new school. It represents a long-term investment in the Seagoville community and the opportunities it creates for future generations.”
Designed to support both current enrollment needs and future educational innovation, the new campus reflects Dallas ISD’s commitment to creating learning environments that extend beyond traditional classroom models.
Located on a shared 100-acre educational campus along Seagoville Road and East Stark Road, the new 118,000-square-foot, two-story school designed by KAI will serve approximately 800 students from pre-K through eighth grade. The campus was developed as part of Dallas ISD’s long-term strategy to relieve overcrowding within the Seagoville feeder pattern while increasing access to innovative educational programming.
As a transformational school, the design includes STEM and language labs, a media center, cafetorium, visual & performing arts spaces and a maker space that evoke a “treehouse in the forest,” reinforcing the school’s connection to the surrounding post-oak reserve, one of the last remaining ecosystems of its kind in Dallas.
Beyond the building itself, the project embraces the site’s unique ecological character. The school’s campus will also include outdoor learning trails, outdoor learning environments and ecosystem-based studies that will transform the campus landscape into a teaching tool for place-based learning. Students will be able to engage directly with natural systems, exploring environmental science, ecology and stewardship through hands-on experiences connected to the campus landscape.
“The design embraces biophilic principles through natural materials, durable finishes and abundant daylight,” said Dalton. “Every classroom has access to natural light and views, supporting student well-being and performance.”
The result is a learning environment where education extends beyond the classroom walls and the site itself becomes part of the curriculum.
“We approached the Seagoville PK-8 as a campus-wide master planning exercise, leveraging the ecological assets of the site to enrich students’ learning experience,” said Dalton. “Working with Cool Schools and community partners, we integrated outdoor learning trails throughout the post-oak reserve and transformed the existing pond into a hands-on learning environment. Students engage directly with the site’s ecosystems, from aquatic life and marsh plantings that naturally filter stormwater to bird species uniquely tied to the pond’s habitat.”
By aligning enrollment strategy, educational programming, campus planning and facility design, Dallas ISD is transforming an overcrowding challenge into an opportunity to expand access, strengthen community connections and create a learning environment designed for future generations.
“Projects like this are about far more than bricks and mortar. They are about spaces where students can learn, grow, discover and build a future,” said Brent Alfred, AIA, CCM, Chief Construction & Operations Officer for Dallas ISD.
The new campus will feature:
- 33 classrooms serving pre-K through eighth grade
- STEAM lab, language lab and maker spaces
- Six science laboratories and three flexible learning environments
- Dedicated visual and performing art rooms for lower and upper grades
- A media center and collaborative learning spaces
- A cafetorium with integrated stage
- An activity gymnasium
- Career and technical education spaces supporting future-ready learning
Members of the design and build team include engineering firm Dikita Enterprises Inc., general contractor Phillips|May Corporation and the Dallas ISD Construction Services team. The school is expected to be completed in August 2027.
