Beverly Fornof, a senior project manager at Dallas-based architecture firm Corgan, said the inspiration came from the design team\u2019s site visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are just some beautiful, amazing, really well-established trees on this site, and that was our vision right off the bat,\u201d Fornof told trustees.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding of the 70-year-old school was approved by voters under the 2026 bond package in May. Officials are pushing for an August 2028 opening at the location, down the street from the existing campus.<\/p>\n
The new school will have two levels with 48 classrooms. Most of those classrooms will be on the north side of campus, near the residential neighborhoods, Fornof said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/11.C.2-Consider-Approval-of-Schematic-Design-for-the-2026-Bond-Program-South-Davis-Elementary-Replacement-School-Project-08.27.26_page-0001-2-1024x571.jpg\")
A rendering shows the initial design of Arlington ISD’s South Davis Elementary rebuild. This rendering is of the first floor. (Courtesy | Corgan, Arlington ISD)
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SD-Level-2_page-0001-2-1024x568.jpg\")
A rendering shows the initial design of Arlington ISD’s South Davis Elementary rebuild. This rendering is of the second floor. (Courtesy | Corgan, Arlington ISD)<\/p>\n
Much of the discussion surrounded the specialty areas on campus. Outside of many of the school\u2019s classrooms lie what designers called learning groves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really flexible space that (students) can kind of spill out onto; the teachers can use in different ways,\u201d Morgan Howell, a project architect at Corgan, told trustees. \u201cThe idea is that it\u2019s programmed with a bunch of flexibility, so there can be areas for large groups to gather. A whole classroom can come out there for small group learning and then (there are) zones for hands-on STEM learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/File_-11.C.2-Consider-Approval-of-Schematic-Design-for-the-2026-Bond-Program-South-Davis-Elementary-Replacement-School-Project-08.27.26-2-1024x586.jpg\")
A rendering shows what the learning groves in the South Davis Elementary School rebuild may look like. (Courtesy | Corgan, Arlington ISD)<\/p>\n
Fornof later added that the sensory components for learning STEM \u2014 science, technology, engineering and math \u2014 topics will adapt to what the school\u2019s curriculum looks like in practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re showing here, for example, is a sensory wall or a STEM wall, so they can do different activities with the pegboards, or it could be a magnetic wall where (students) can learn about physics and how things move, motion, colors, just depending on what that curriculum is,\u201d Fornof said.<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s heart is in its library, designers said. Mimicking a tree\u2019s heartwood, the library will sit in the middle of the school, tying the campus and its outdoor courtyard together.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/File_-11.C.2-Consider-Approval-of-Schematic-Design-for-the-2026-Bond-Program-South-Davis-Elementary-Replacement-School-Project-08.27.26-1-2-1024x586.jpg\")
A rendering shows what the library of the South Davis Elementary School rebuild may look like. (Courtesy | Corgan, Arlington ISD)<\/p>\n
The courtyard is meant to be both a gathering space and a practical learning area for students, Howell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where we would put the most hands-on learning, playful activities for the students,\u201d Howell said. \u201cHaving those zones of a larger area, maybe their science teacher comes out, does a lesson, and then sends the kids off to go explore and find things in nature, come back and discuss their findings.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/File_-11.C.2-Consider-Approval-of-Schematic-Design-for-the-2026-Bond-Program-South-Davis-Elementary-Replacement-School-Project-08.27.26-2-2-1024x591.jpg\")
A rendering shows what the courtyard at the South Davis Elementary rebuild in Arlington could look like. (Courtesy | Corgan, Arlington ISD)<\/p>\n
Trustee David Wilbanks said he loves that details from new schools in the district are included in the South Davis Elementary design \u2014 and Corgan staff made it even better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really goes above and beyond with the ceiling details, and you really get that sense of going up into the canopy and all that natural light,\u201d Wilbanks said. \u201cAll of the things I love about our most recent schools, but I think even doubled down on the natural light, which is just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Board President Sarah McMurrough said the design themes for the school were exceptional.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already talked about how there are mature trees and a lot of nature elements around this school, but it is such a historic, very special neighborhood in the heart of Arlington,\u201d McMurrough said. \u201cI just see so many parallels with that, and I know that the students will love it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@arlingtonreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n