WESTLAKE ACADEMY

Westlake Academy is a college-bound, IB-focused school in the Town of Westlake, Texas, where inquiry, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning are central to the student experience. As enrollment and academic programs evolved, the existing facilities no longer provided the space needed to fully support the school’s growing arts and sciences curriculum. BRW Architects designed a 7,884 SF addition and 2,300 SF renovation that expands opportunities for exploration and collaboration, creating modern learning environments that foster innovation, creativity, and hands-on discovery across disciplines.

The design takes its cues from the school’s steep site and its commitment to student-centered learning. Rather than treating the grade change as a constraint, BRW used it as an opportunity, shaping a new outdoor learning environment that extends the classroom beyond four walls. Inside, a widened circulation spine becomes a collaboration corridor for high school students, with integrated seating, art display space, and a dramatic double-height volume framed by an exposed heavy timber structure. Clerestory windows and large exterior overhead doors bring natural light deep into the building, keeping students visually connected to the outdoors throughout the day.

The result is a building that feels cohesive and purposeful. Simple interior finishes let the timber structure speak for itself, while artisanal tile accents add warmth and character. Science labs are designed for flexibility, supporting the project-based and evolving teaching methods the IB program calls for. Across every space, the addition strengthens the interdisciplinary connections at the heart of Westlake Academy’s identity, giving students and teachers a facility that genuinely supports the way they learn.