The public education industry is facing real financial pressure across Texas. In times like these, renovation and modernization become not just practical choices, but strategic ones. At Reliance Architecture, we have a long history and extensive experience helping school districts extend the life of existing campuses while creating environments that feel current, functional, and aligned with today’s educational goals.
Renovating a school is about more than replacing finishes or updating systems. It’s about restoring pride, improving functionality, and ensuring new facilities reflect the value a community places on its students. We understand that even modest improvements like modern lighting, refreshed classrooms, reconfigured collaboration spaces, secure entries, and upgraded science labs can significantly impact student engagement, staff and teacher morale, and community perception.
Our team is experienced in working within tight budgets and active campuses, like primary and secondary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, and private institutions. We plan renovations carefully to minimize disruption, often phasing work around academic calendars and coordinating closely with district operations and maintenance staff. From infrastructure upgrades and accessibility improvements to full campus modernizations, our team approaches each project with realism, discipline, and respect for the fact that school never stops.
Our team works diligently while understanding the importance of balancing visible improvements with behind-the-scenes upgrades. Mechanical systems, roofing, accessibility compliance, safety enhancements, and site circulation improvements may not always be seen, but they are critical to long-term performance and cost control. Our role is to help districts prioritize wisely and make informed decisions that stretch available dollars as far as possible.
Renovation is about stewardship. It’s about honoring what a community has built while preparing it for the future. Whether modernizing a single building, expanding spaces with new additions, or revitalizing an entire campus, we work alongside districts to bring new life to existing schools, creating spaces that students and educators are proud to call their own.
Contact Reliance Architecture to start the conversation.
K-12 Renovation Projects
Our renovation work reflects decades of experience modernizing existing campuses to meet today’s educational demands. From full campus revitalizations and additions to targeted upgrades including science and technology labs, gymnasium and athletics facilities, CTE spaces, libraries, secure entries and security enhancements, athletic improvements, and infrastructure replacements—we help districts reimagine what their current facilities can become. Every project is shaped by the realities of the campus: operational schedules, budget constraints, educational requirements, and long-term district goals. Through thoughtful planning, clear phasing strategies, and disciplined design, we transform aging facilities into environments that feel current, functional, and built to support the next generation of students.
Project Portfolio
Explore the projects below to see how we bring new life to existing schools.
Kennedale Junior High School Renovations
As part of Kennedale ISD’s 2023 Bond Program, the district identified targeted improvements at Kennedale Junior High School to enhance safety, accessibility, and student support spaces. Rather than pursuing wholesale replacement, the district focused on strategic renovations and additions that would modernize the campus while strengthening its day-to-day function.
Reliance Architecture worked with district leadership to refine the scope and deliver improvements that addressed both visible and operational needs. A new secure vestibule created a controlled and welcoming point of entry, reinforcing campus safety. Restroom facilities were reconfigured and upgraded to improve functionality and accessibility, and special education spaces were enhanced to better support instructional programs and student services.
In addition to architectural upgrades, the project included a comprehensive graphics and wayfinding package designed to improve campus navigation and reinforce school identity. An in-depth traffic study was also conducted, resulting in revised traffic patterns that improved circulation, safety, and efficiency for students, staff, and families during arrival and dismissal.
Throughout design and construction, careful coordination was required to maintain campus operations while improvements were implemented. The work emphasized durability, code compliance, and long-term performance, ensuring that upgrades would serve students and staff reliably for years to come.
The result is a refreshed junior high campus that feels more secure, better organized, and more aligned with the district’s educational goals, strengthening both the student experience and overall campus performance.
- Budgeting
- Programming
- Design Services
- Construction Documents
- Bidding Phase Services
- Construction Phase Services
- Project Close-out
- Warranty Phase Services
Yorktown ISD Elementary School Conversion
Yorktown ISD was facing a set of challenges familiar to many rural districts: stagnant to shrinking enrollment, aging facilities, and tightening budgets that made large-scale new construction unrealistic. Rather than reacting quickly, the district chose to step back and evaluate its long-term options.
Reliance Architecture worked closely with a community committee and the school board to study multiple conceptual and master planning scenarios. Through a series of workshops and planning phases, we examined the condition of existing campuses, enrollment trends, operational costs, and long-term sustainability. The process was deliberate and transparent, focused on identifying a solution that balanced fiscal responsibility with community priorities.
After careful analysis, the district identified the reuse of the former junior high campus as the most viable path forward. What followed was not a light renovation, but a comprehensive transformation.
The former junior high was fully gutted—everything removed except the primary corridor walls. Classrooms were reconfigured for elementary-age learners, finishes and lighting were replaced, and building systems were modernized. A full HVAC replacement addressed long-standing comfort and efficiency concerns, while electrical, life safety, and accessibility upgrades brought the facility up to current standards.
The result is a modern elementary school built within an existing structure—preserving community investment while extending the life of the campus for decades to come. In the years following completion, the district saw enrollment stabilize and begin to grow again, with local families choosing to return their students from neighboring districts. While facilities alone do not determine enrollment trends, the renewed campus played a meaningful role in restoring pride and confidence in Yorktown ISD.
- Facility Assessment
- Master Planning & Conceptual Studies
- Design Services
- Budgeting
- Programming
- Construction Documents
- Bidding Phase Services
- Construction Phase Services
- Project Close-out
- Warranty Phase Services
Pflugerville ISD Rowe Lane Elementary School Modernization
As part of Pflugerville ISD’s campus modernization efforts, Rowe Lane Elementary received targeted renovations designed to refresh the learning environment while supporting long-term operational efficiency. Rather than expanding the campus, the district focused on strategic interior upgrades that would deliver visible impact within existing spaces and budget parameters.
Reliance Architecture led renovations that included updated interior finishes, restroom improvements, and a customized graphics package aligned with district standards. While each campus received graphics tailored to reflect its individual identity, the overall approach maintained visual consistency across the district. Finishes were based on a standardized material palette, with select materials adjusted to reflect each school’s color scheme. This standardized approach provides a widely used, consistent set of finishes—reducing long-term maintenance demands and simplifying future replacement cycles across multiple campuses.
Careful phasing and coordination allowed work to be completed efficiently while maintaining campus operations. The result is a brighter, more modern elementary school environment that supports student pride while reinforcing district-wide cost control and long-term stewardship.
- Budgeting
- Programming
- Design Services
- Construction Documents
- Bidding Phase Services
- Construction Phase Services
- Project Close-out
- Warranty Phase Services
Meet the K12 Renovation Team
Antonio G. Naylor, AIA, ALEP
- Type of Projects: Elementary, middle, and high school K-12 Texas renovations
- Area of Expertise: Facility planning, bond programs, large-scale campus renovations and additions
- Experience: 30+ years of experience
- Memberships: American Institute of Architects; Texas Society of Architects; Association for Learning Environments
Clifton W. Stuckey, AIA
- Type of Projects: Elementary, middle, and high school K-12 Texas renovations
- Area of Expertise: Master planning, renovation strategy, construction coordination
- Experience: 20+ years of experience
- Memberships: American Institute of Architects; Texas Society of Architects; Association for Learning Environments
Kimberly Thompson, AIA, LEED AP
- Type of Projects: K-12 schools and community-based education projects
- Area of Expertise: Sustainable design, adaptive reuse, long-term facility performance
- Experience: 20+ years of experience
- Memberships: American Institute of Architects; U.S. Green Building Council
Taylor Perez, IIDA Associate
- Type of Projects: Elementary and secondary school K-12 Texas renovations
- Area of Expertise: Interior design, finish selection, student-focused learning environments
- Experience: 3+ years of experience
- Memberships: International Interior Design Association; American Society of Interior Designers
Nancy Zhao, AIA Associate
- Type of Projects: Elementary and high school K-12 Texas renovations
- Area of Expertise: Sustainable systems, energy efficiency, building performance integration
- Experience: 10+ years of experience
- Memberships: American Institute of Architects; Texas Society of Architects; ASHRAE
Steven Nguyen, AIA Associate
- Type of Projects: Elementary, middle, and high school K-12 Texas renovations
- Area of Expertise: Design support, project coordination, campus improvements
- Experience: 2+ years of experience
- Memberships: American Institute of Architects; Texas Society of Architects
Our team is committed to inspiring the next generation of students through thoughtful, modernized design and architecture. We deliver cost-effective solutions that support your students, staff, and long-term goals. Contact Reliance Architecture today to start the conversation.
Reliance Architecture
Address: 12 Chisholm Trail Rd, Suite 200 – Round Rock, TX 78681, United States
Phone: (512) 758-7660
Email: info@reliancearchitecture.com
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m
Texas K-12 Renovation FAQs
What is considered a major renovation for a K-12 school?
A major renovation typically involves significant upgrades to core building systems, layouts, or safety features. This can include HVAC replacement, structural changes, school construction phase, accessibility improvements, or large-scale reconfigurations. Projects often go beyond cosmetic updates to improve long-term performance, code compliance, and how the campus functions day to day.
How long does a typical K-12 renovation project take?
Timelines vary based on scope of the project, but most school renovations take several months to over a year. Projects are often phased around academic calendars, with major work completed during summer or breaks. Managing the project timelines and planning in accordance with stakeholders helps keep schedules realistic while maintaining school operations and minimizing delays.
Can schools remain open during renovation?
Yes, many K–12 renovations are completed while schools remain operational. Work is typically phased to reduce disruption, with construction scheduled during off-hours, weekends, or school breaks. Close coordination with staff ensures safety, clear separation of work zones, and minimal impact on students and daily activities.
What upgrades are most common school renovations in Texas?
Common upgrades include renovating facilities and classrooms for modernized improvements, lighting upgrades, expanded spaces with new additions, and enhanced security features such as secure entry vestibules. Schools also frequently update restrooms, athletic facilities, cafeterias, science labs, and collaborative spaces, along with accessibility and infrastructure improvements that support long-term efficiency and higher education success.
Do school districts need a facilities plan before starting renovations in Texas?
While not always legally required, a facilities plan and Texas school bond planning is strongly recommended before starting renovations and achitectural services in Texas. It helps districts assess building conditions, prioritize needs, and align projects with long-term goals, enrollment trends, and budgets. Proper planning leads to smarter decisions and more efficient use of limited funding.
What are the benefits of renovating, rather than building a new school?
Renovation is often more cost-effective and faster than new construction. It allows districts to extend the life of existing buildings, preserve community investment, and minimize school disruption. Strategic upgrades can modernize learning environments, while improving the efficiency of buildings, and deliver meaningful impact without the higher cost of building new facilities.
Discover how a Reliance K-12 architect in Texas can bring your district’s vision to life. Contact Reliance Architecture for more information!