Holland Hall breaks ground on reimagined middle school

Holland Hall officially launched the construction phase of its Lead. Build. Transform. campaign with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the H.A. Chapman Middle School on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The reimagined facilities will serve 4th through 8th grades.

Campaign leadership donors, trustees, key community leaders, middle school students, and faculty attended the event. The Middle School facility is the centerpiece of the comprehensive Lead. Build. Transform. campaign, which has an overall goal of $41 million.

Project Timeline and Impact:

• The Middle School Project: The transformation of the current 40-year-old facility will create a dynamic, student-centered learning environment. The new facilities will include a complete transformation of the existing structure for 4th through 6th grades, as well as a new two-story building for 7th and 8th grades. A courtyard will connect both buildings.

• Timeline: Construction is projected to be complete before the Fall 2027 semester.

• Vision: Campaign Co-Chairs Patty and Bill Lawson said: “Holland Hall is a generous community that supports not only learning, but lifelong learning. Transforming a facility that has served its purpose into one designed for today’s students marks an important step forward. Thanks to our remarkable community, the path ahead for our middle schoolers shines with curiosity and endless possibility. This is a truly transformative moment — a project that will benefit every student and ensure they leave Holland Hall with even greater opportunities.”

• Philanthropy: Campaign Co-Chairs Kelly and Rick Wilkerson said: “Holland Hall is fortunate to have had donors throughout its 103-year history who have helped make the impossible possible. Thanks to previous donors, our daughter along with all Holland Hall students have benefited from the generosity of others.”

• H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Foundation History: Over the decades, the Chapman family’s generosity has shaped Holland Hall in profound ways. Their support has provided student financial aid, created The Chapman Green (a campus common space), and helped construct the Chapman Library in the Upper School, the Mary K. Chapman Primary School, and both the current and future H.A. Chapman Middle School buildings.

• Ruth Nelson Family Foundation History: Ruth Nelson was an essential partner in Holland Hall’s history of excellence. Her past investments supported generations of students and educators, and the Ruth Nelson Family Foundation’s continued partnership will ensure that Holland Hall thrives for another century.

• Architect: Lake Flato (San Antonio, Texas) has designed buildings at schools throughout the country. The firm’s pedigree goes back to O’Neil Ford, an architect of the Upper School Walter Academic Building. Ford’s design was the main impetus behind the building’s recent inclusion on the National Historic Register.

• Construction Manager: Crossland Construction, Tulsa