Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Spring Branch ISD will hold a grand opening ceremony Thursday for the spectacular new four-story addition at Memorial High School, one of Houston’s most storied high schools.

The grand opening ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20. Memorial High School is located at 935 Echo Lane in Houston.

The new four-story, 161,249 square-foot building Instructional and Cafeteria Building  and renovations to the campus' existing site, elevate Memorial to new heights in design and function. The original school was built in 1963.

The new structure, which was built with funding from the 2017 Bond, replaces six older academic buildings.

Unparalleled attention to details, from Mustang murals to acoustical ceilings and a main central atrium and modern staircases, make the four-story building addition a marvel to behold. Located on the west side of the campus, it features a two-story dining area, 21 science labs and 28 general classrooms.

Memorial Principal Lisa Weir said the new addition is “a game changer for teaching and learning. There are many collaborative areas around the building that allow for student opportunities to work on projects, problem solve and present their work.”

Students and staff moved into the new building earlier this month after the winter break.

“Rebuilding a comprehensive high school is a monumental task, so we were so excited and thankful for the 2017 Bond to get the work started,” Principal Weir said. “This new building has 50 new rooms of instructional space. Every student at Memorial has a class in the new building.”

She said the new cafeteria and courtyard provide a “college-like” feel for the students.
“They were blown away when they saw it.”

New classrooms boast natural light and collaborative learning spaces. West-facing rooms overlook an athletic turf field for a one-of-a-kind view.

Upgrades to athletics include a new turf field, safety netting, practice fields, and field house, including an eight-court tennis complex and renovation of grass practice fields, were also completed during the project.

Site improvements included the installation of new traffic signals, a new driveway, increased parking. Also included were updates to the existing HVAC system, restroom facilities upgrades, and an elevator system.

The project is part of the $898.4 million 2017 Bond, which was approved with 80 percent of the vote.