Rebuilding history, Fort Worth landmark school’s revival taking shape

Ground was broken in March 2016 on the $55.8 million renovation project that will transform Terrell, built in 1882 as Fort Worth’s first black high school during the era of racial segregation, into the combined Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VPA) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Academy (STEM) for high school students.

The new main entrance will be beneath a canopy that arches over the old Terrell building and joins it with the modernistic, 21st century glass and steel performing arts building. 

The new building will have about 65,000 sf on two levels. 

The new performing arts building will house the main auditorium with 800 seats and a full fly loft proscenium stage, including full rigging capacity. 

School district officials said the project will renovate or repurpose about 132,000 sf but not all will be physically altered.

The architects intend for most of the facility’s space to be integrated for VPA and STEM students rather than separated by discipline.

The school is expected to open to ninth graders in 2017 and will add a grade level each year after that. It will accommodate 800 students initially, 500 in the arts and 300 STEM students.