A new campus in the heart of downtown Dallas will bring together three public schools in a first-of-its-kind joint effort. 

The Dallas Independent School District broke ground in late June on the $80 million Nolan Estes Campus, a 142,000-square-foot, three-story facility at 912 S. Ervay St.

Set to open in January 2027, the campus will consolidate Downtown Montessori Academy, CityLab High School, and the Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA) under one roof to serve students from pre-K through 12th grade.

District officials say the campus will offer students a collaborative, creative learning environment rooted in real-world experiences, while anchoring the long-term vision of a complete downtown neighborhood.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Nolan Estes Campus in June. [Courtesy photo]

A historic joint venture

Construction will be led by BOWA Construction, EJ Smith Construction, and Post L Group in a joint venture that marks the first time in Dallas ISD history that three African American-owned prime contractors are leading a major project together.

“This project isn’t just about building a school,” said Nosa Ehimwenman, BOWA Construction president, in a statement. “It’s about building momentum, opportunity, and lasting impact for the students of Dallas: the vision of Nolan Estes. There has not been a joint venture [like ours] to lead a project like this in Dallas.”  

The path to the project was unconventional.

The joint venture was originally selected for a different site through a competitive process. When plans shifted to the current downtown location, Dallas ISD engaged the same team directly. Merriman Anderson began working on early feasibility studies for multiple sites in 2019 and was brought back due to its deep familiarity with the district’s goals.

“This project is the culmination of years of collaboration with Dallas ISD to envision a school that meets the evolving needs of students, educators, and the downtown community,” said John Carruth, principal and director of design at Dallas-based Merriman Anderson Architects, which is leading architecture and interior design for the project.

Honoring a legacy

The campus is named in honor of Dr. Nolan Estes, the former Dallas ISD superintendent credited with desegregating the district and launching its first magnet schools. District officials say the new campus carries forward his legacy of equity, innovation, and access to opportunity.

At a 2021 board meeting when trustees voted to name the future campus, then-Superintendent Michael Hinojosa called the project “the start of a renaissance of southern downtown Dallas.”

“We are going to build three new schools,” he said, “and you will be able to go from pre-K through a doctorate degree and never leave downtown Dallas.”

Leaders from Dallas ISD and Downtown Dallas Inc. have said the campus will have a “monumental impact” on the area—adding a family-centered anchor to the central business district.

“This school has been a dream for over a decade,” said Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., in a statement on the groundbreaking. “It is central to the vision of downtown as a complete neighborhood, with great schools, parks, grocery stores, and entertainment.”

Scripps noted that more than 15,000 residents live downtown, making the timing and impact of the project ” monumental.” 

Minority- and woman-owned design team

The full consultant team, announced in June, reflects the district’s equity goals. All partners are minority- or woman-owned firms, including:

• MEP/Fire Protection: MEPCE
• Structural and Civil: Geisler Partners Consulting Engineers + RLG
• Landscape Architecture: CCA Landscape Architects
• Acoustics: Saunders Associates
• Food Services: Bosma Design Solutions
• Building Envelope: ABBAE
• Storm Shelter Review: Farnsworth Group
• Traffic: DeShazo Group
• Permitting: Lam Engineering
• Accessibility: BDA Accessibility Services

Dallas ISD currently serves nearly 141,000 students and offers a wide range of choice programs, magnet schools, and career pathways. The Nolan Estes Campus is one of the district’s most ambitious new projects in its broader push to reimagine learning spaces for the next generation.

In June, Superintendent Dr. Stephanie S. Elizalde said the project underscores the district’s long-term commitment to students.

“We need to invest in our kids,” she said. “This is about more than construction—it’s about sending a message to our students and community about where our priorities truly lie.”

Lance Murray contributed to this report. 

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