Going Up

SBISD bond used to upgrade classroom buildings, athletic facilities By Bo Espey, Reporter

AS STUDENTS AND STAFF returned to school on Sept. 8, it was hard not to notice the lack of lockers in the Orange Hallway, the new carpet in the Blue Hallway and the construction zone outside of the White Hallway. Thanks to a 2017 SBISD bond, the campus is receiving numerous upgrades in a three phase project for both its academic and athletic departments. Opened in 1962, Memorial is the oldest high school in Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and has received no major renovations to the campus in more than 20 years. “It’s pretty exciting, actually,” Principal Lisa Weir said. “Everything is going really well.” Phase I, which started last spring, highlights the completion of a new building on the northwest corner of campus. The new building will be four stories tall and house math and science classrooms, assistant principal offices as well as a new cafeteria. “We will be ready to move into the new building by next summer,” Weir said. The current cafeteria is expected to be converted into career, technology and special education classrooms. Phase II and III will bring the rebuilding and renovation of the remaining wings throughout the school. Architects and designers considered multiple factors when planning the new campus. For Associate Superintendent of Operations and the Interim Director of Planning & Construction, Travis Sanford, the expansive high school renovations are an exciting experience. Sanford has worked with representatives of both the Master Plan Advisory Team and Project Advisory Team in revitalizing Memorial’s campus. “Our vision was to design new additions to the campus that would give students and staff a 21st century learning environment,” Sanford said. “We want to be flexible for any future changes.” Sanford and his team also took into account the school’s lack of parking, entrance points and congested traffic flow. Over the summer, a new row of parking spots were added to the field house parking lot and a student drive was put in on the west side of the football field with easy access to Gaylord Drive. The next step is the addition of a new bus circle that will be added where the Aqua and Silver Hallways currently stand. While the main school is months from completion, a new state of the art tennis complex has been moved and completed near the field house. The facility boasts eight lighted courts, covered back-to-back stands that run the length of the courts, surround sound speakers, locker rooms for players, public restrooms, a storage room and ice room, and a coaches’ office. “It’s great that all of the tennis teams are finally able to enjoy such a wonderful complex,” varsity tennis Coach Budd Booth said. “Playing on such high quality courts is a privilege.” The tennis program has been practically unbeatable, boasting the title of district champs for 15 consecutive years and regional champs for 11 years. On top of that they have gone to the state tournament the past 11 straight years with three semifinal appearances, six finals appearances and two championships in 2017 and 2019. The new facility showcases the program’s success just as the new school will highlight the amazing work and learning that takes place daily. “The new courts are so amazing,” varsity team member Kylie Imperial said. “My favorite part about them are our new locker rooms and the surround sound speakers.” Construction contractors work on demolishing the parking lot in the area where the tennis courts used to stand on Gaylord Drive.

Photo by Callie Maxwell.

An artist’s rendering of the new building, complete with a spacious bus circle and added parking spots. Photo by SBISD architects

The new building is expected to be ready by next summer. Photo

by SBISD architects

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