In 2016, Spring ISD voters approved construction of Middle School No. 8 in the northern section of the district as part of a $330 million bond referendum, and the board of trustees got its first look at plans for the school at its April 12 work session. Construction will cost $50 million, and the 149,000-square-foot school will house about 725 students, district officials have said. When the new school opens, it will result in several boundary changes for middle school students in the district. It is located near the intersection of I-45 and Hardy Toll Road. The school is designed so it will be able to expand in the future, said architects from Stantec, the firm contracted to design the building. Chief Operations Officer Mark Miranda said future bonds could fund expansion if it is needed. The school design features two gyms, rooms for weights, dance, band, choir, a theater space, a library, a maker space as well as classrooms and flex space that will allow for collaborative activities between subject areas. The classrooms are organized around the central flex space in units officials described as "pods," according to district officials. The floorplan is organized so that quiet areas—the library and academic space—are separate from more active areas, such as the gym and performing arts rooms, architect Scott Klaus said. The building is not likely to be at risk for flooding because it will be situated at a higher elevation than the adjacent Northgate Crossing Elementary School, which also did not flood during Hurricane Harvey, Miranda said.