Midlothian High School

Midlothian, Texas

Firm

VLK Architects

Client

Midlothian Independent School District

Area

529,773 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$39,934,969

Completion Date

08/2007

Midlothian High School, designed for 2,500 students, connects two existing campuses: the north campus housing the ninth-grade center and the south campus housing grades 10 to 12.
The connector building has a new auditorium with 800 seats and a new library—including a children’s library—that serves students and the community.
A curved masonry wall, running east-west, embraces both these spaces, creating a new main corridor and a welcoming arrival area. A playful color palette animates these volumes and gives them individual character by the use of bold accent colors on the walls, ceilings and floor patterns.
The Main Street corridor runs north-south and connects the two existing campuses. A new Java Cafe is situated along this axis.
The auditorium features a full orchestra pit, a 60-foot fly loft and blue acoustical curved ceiling panels; an undulating wall in warm tones visually contrasts with the ceiling panels and diffuses sound to enhance acoustics for audiences.
The south campus includes an expanded and renovated cafeteria and kitchen that opens to Main Street.
A new arena, with capacity for 2,500 spectators, is built with seating accessed from a second-floor concourse; this separates the fans from the players. Seating on all four sides of the court establishes the arena setting.