The 100,400-square-foot elementary school, located at 10301 Berkshire Lake Blvd. in Fort Worth, is home to about 850 students from nearby neighborhoods, according to the release.
The new school’s layout is separated into seven wings, each distinguished by grade level, the release stated. Berkshire Elementary School includes collaboration areas throughout the building with televisions and whiteboards, along with a large gym that can act as a storm shelter.
However, according to the release, the standout of the new elementary school is the library, which sports a ceiling with lighted constellations and large acoustic panels that mimic trees towering over reading nooks called “bear caves.” The new school also features a balcony with handrails overlooking the cafeteria and library and upper-level seating above the cafeteria and stage.
In addition, the outside of the school features a courtyard with synthetic turf and picnic tables, along with two playgrounds and an outdoor basketball court with four goals, the release stated.
The construction of Berkshire Elementary School was part of NISD’s 2017 bond approved by voters, according to the district’s website.
Berkshire Elementary School’s completion marks Cadence McShane’s fifth school completed for NISD and third built with the same prototype design, according to the release. The other schools constructed by Cadence McShane include Chisholm Trail Middle School, Haslet Elementary School, Sendera Ranch Elementary School and Medlin Middle School with Lance Thompson Elementary School and Haslet Elementary School following the same prototype design as Berkshire Elementary, according to McKenna Clark, marketing specialist for Cadence McShane Construction Co.
“NISD was happy to work with Cadence McShane again on our latest prototype elementary school in the Berkshire development,” said Tommy Osborne, NISD executive director of construction, in the release. “Of the three we have built so far, this one is my favorite with how the interior finishes turned out. Credit goes to our design and construction teams for this successful project.”
