With the second quarter underway, construction continues on the multi-million dollar and multi-phase renovation on campus as construction worker make progress on adding an automotive center, expanded tennis courts and refurbish the main building by August 2027.

This large-scale project aims to modernize the more than 30-year-old campus, and the work is happening in phases to manage the disruption to students and staff, but that upgrade come with challenges.

“They live in these classrooms,” Cruz said. “It’s hard for them to change. It’s hard for anybody, for change, for the teachers. You know, they have their stuff exactly how they want it.”

The administration recognizes these disruptions are hard on the school community, especially for teachers who have settled into their spaces as classrooms shifted and HVAC issues plagued the start of the school year. 

As the next phase of the renovation begins, Cruz and associate secretary Deanna Parker said the most dramatic part of the project, the center of the school, will be tackled soon.

“[They’re] looking to redo the whole center section, the main building over the summer,” Parker said. “They’re gonna tear all that down.”

The center building remodel, normally held for classes, like AVID, AMSTUD and Government, will be temporarily moved to the E-building during the Fall 2026

Along with building renovations, major changes involving moving and expanding the school’s tennis facilities and gyms are meant to happen as well. That space left by the old courts won’t be empty for long. Along with the new courts, the plan is to build a hands-on learning space for students.

“We have eight courts, and they’re moving them out to the football field,” Cruz said. They’re going to put 12 tennis courts out there. Where the tennis courts are, they’re going to build an automotive center with six bays for cars.”

Students will use the space to learn oil changes and small repairs if their car breaks down, and they help. 

Despite this project adding many new facilities to the campus, it isn’t just about adding new areas, but also improving the old ones. While no new classrooms are being added several current classrooms will be enlarged.

Another addition to the classrooms will be upgraded in terms of technology across the board.

“Eventually, all the teachers are going to have those new two-touchscreen boards,” Parker said.

To make this huge project possible, the work is split into several phases. The first phase is moving the special education department into the former office area, which is set for January 2026. The later phases will focus on the baseball and tennis court upgrades across the building. 

Though students and staff alike are excited for what is to come, the current construction has been a challenge for Plano West.

“The boards across my classroom do keep the distractions of the outside world like the construction away, but it also makes us more sleepy because it’s dark and we don’t have the natural light and vitamin D,” pre-calculus teacher Lynn Pettit said.

She also said parking has become challenging for everyone across the campus, but despite the obstacles, Pettit said she sees the value in the long-term plan, adding

“It is important that we expand, and we get new technology,” Pettit said. “I am pretty excited about that.”