The Matadors have officially been welcomed home as Murchison Middle School held its virtual grand opening for their newly modernized campus on Wednesday, March 31.

The new building is one of nine AISD schools that have been modernized by the 2017 Bond Program, including projects such as Menchaca Elementary, Norman-Sims Elementary, Rosedale School and more.

Superintendent Stephane S. Elizalde said modernized schools like Murchison are the mission that every student deserves.

“Here at AISD, our mission is every child, every day,” Elizalde said. “My priority is for every student at AISD to feel supported and empowered. That is a goal I take very seriously and this modernized campus brings us one step closer to realizing that vision.

Construction began in June of 2019 and ended in December of 2020, with a total budget of $25,308,000.

The modernized space includes a three-story addition with classroom studios, three learning neighborhoods, makerspaces, new science rooms, and an open collaboration area for students to learn in a flexible learning environment. 

Sustainability was also a key concept in the design. The site minimized the impact of the building on the terrain, protecting trees while new green stormwater infrastructure helped to solve drainage issues.

The design received a certification from the Austin Energy Green Building program that recognizes innovation in building for the enrichment of the community's environmental, economic and human well-being.

“These 21st-century learning spaces will help my teachers and students be more successful,” Principal Beth Newton said. “They will allow teachers to collaborate and design some really innovative projects for the students to complete. They will be able to use technology to enhance their learning and be able to apply the skills they are learning to solve the problems of the future and the world today.”

Emily Gunning is a parent at Murchison Middle School. She said this new space will help students take ownership of their learning.

“I think it allows all students to collaborate more and to have more flexibility and more ownership in their learning so they feel more invested in what they are doing on campus,” said Gunning.

The virtual grand opening ended with a video that featured students from band and cheer celebrating the ribbon cutting by Principal Newton.

For more information on Murchison modernization, you can visit www.aisdfuture.com