MIDLOTHIAN, TX – The Midlothian Independent School District - home of the Panthers - is setting its sights on a new 8,000-seat multi-purpose stadium. In addition to a new Midlothian middle school and additions and renovations to the high school, the stadium is part of a building program implemented to meet the district’s growing needs.

The Midlothian Independent School District has grown more than 33 percent in the past five years – ranking it one of the top 15 fastest growing school districts in the state of Texas. The district currently includes four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school.

“In the next three years our single high school will move from 4A to 5A competition due to enrollment increases,” said Dr. J.D. Kennedy, superintendent, Midlothian Independent School District. “The district carefully weighed improvements to our existing 5,000-seat playfield versus construction of a new stadium.”

The school district found significant building and accessibility code upgrades would be triggered if improvements or expansion were pursued at the existing playfield. Additionally, the expansion of the existing facility would impose too great a load on the adjacent roadways, available land, and adjoining neighborhood. The cost to retrofit and expand the existing stadium rivaled the cost of a new facility.

Ultimately, they elected to pursue a new 8,000-seat stadium. The new facility, planned to open in July 2006, is a symbol of community pride. It is located on a new highway bypass allowing visibility, access, and egress and is designed in a unique park-like environment for community gatherings. Its initial seating can be expanded to 12,500 seats to meet the future needs of this fast-growing school district.

The stadium is carefully positioned in a bowl-shaped valley area, carved into natural slopes on three sides. A continuous promenade walkway, around the stadium’s perimeter, allows access to all seating. The walkway also provides patrons with a grand aerial view of the playfield.

“Wide terraces are shaded by small ornamental trees,” said Mark VanderVoort, designer/vice president and director of HKS Education. “They provide opportunities for meeting and greeting friends and acquaintances, access to accessible seating, and excellent views both of the action on the field and the city beyond.”

The stadium includes four corner concession/restroom buildings, each with an adjoining ticket booth and entry gate. The field house, located at the northern and higher end of the bowl, contains four locker rooms to facilitate tournaments and transitions between play-off events. At the southern end of the field is a large scoreboard, framed by special seating areas for home and visitor bands.

“A state-of-the-art, three-story press box sits atop the home side promenade looking over the field,” said VanderVoort. “A covered porch level allows elevator access to 1,000 centrally-located, reserved seats. The open-air porch doubles as a judging platform for band competitions. The upper two levels are designed with working booths, required for playoff events, and a uniquely-designed video/observation balcony. The balcony provides space for multiple camera set-ups as well as access for patrons to step outside.”

“The Midlothian ISD board of trustees challenged the architect to create a truly unique complex – appropriately symbolic for the City of Midlothian,” said Kennedy. “We wanted a place that fosters community pride and enhances many lifetime memories. The district looks forward to hosting many major events for years to come in this new, exciting facility.”

HKS Education Sports has extensive educational sports design experience including work at the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Complex for Frisco Independent School District; the Gopher-Warrior Bowl renovation for Grand Prairie Independent School District; the special events center for Garland Independent School District; Jesse Owens Memorial Complex for the Dallas Independent School District; The Ben Dial Athletic Complex renovations for DeSoto Independent School District; in addition to the multi-purpose stadium for Midlothian Independent School District.

HKS, Inc., founded in 1939, is among the top-ten architectural/engineering firms in the United States. The firm has completed more than $27 billion in construction in more than 400 cities located in 45 states as well as 19 foreign countries from its Dallas headquarters and through offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Orlando, Richmond, Salt Lake City, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom.