Richardson West Junior High is set for a full reconstruction into a middle school after City Council unanimously approved zoning changes on March 9.
The reconstruction is part of Richardson ISD’s larger initiative to convert all junior highs into middle schools by fall 2028. This will add sixth graders to the junior highs that currently serve seventh and eighth grade.
The overview
Richardson West Junior High, the arts and technology magnet school, is located on a 40-acre site shared with Richardson High School.
James Watson, RISD’s senior executive director of operations, said the constraints of the site do not allow room for building expansion to accommodate the additional students, or the temporary classrooms that would be needed during renovations.
Therefore, a new three-story West will be constructed on the site of the Richardson High School baseball stadium, located next to the current junior high building.
When the new middle school is complete, the junior high will be demolished and a new baseball stadium will be constructed in its place. The reconstruction will allow the existing junior high to remain operational throughout construction.
Zooming in
The City Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval for modified development standards to accommodate the proposed construction.
Plans also include constructing a parking lot on an RISD-owned vacant lot on Holly Drive, across the street from West and the baseball stadium. The lot will serve as parking for middle school staff and faculty as well as visitor parking for baseball games.
Also of note
Several residents expressed concern at the City Plan Commission meeting about the lighting from the new parking lot, which will be located behind several homes.
At the council meeting, Watson said the parking lot light poles will be as low as possible, likely around 20 feet tall, and will be located around the perimeter of the lot facing inwards. The lights will also be shielded, focused downward and dimmable, emitting only a low level of light when they do not sense motion.
The details
The proposed construction for Richardson West, the baseball stadium and the new parking lot doesn’t fully comply with the sites’ zoning standards, so the district requested modified development standards, including:
Higher maximum building heightWaived building height requirements near residential areasBaseball field light poles allowed to exceed 30 feetShrubs and fence allowed as screening wallWhat’s next
After council’s unanimous approval of the modified development standards, construction on Richardson West Junior High and the five other junior highs is anticipated to begin this summer. All middle schools are expected to be completed by August 2028 ahead of the fall semester, and the baseball stadium is expected to be completed by January 2029.