Roger L. Perry Campus
Lakehill Preparatory School
Lakehill Preparatory School guides motivated students to learn with curiosity, lead with confidence, and serve with compassion. Our challenging and nurturing educational community inspires students to become collaborative problem-solvers who live with integrity.
Located on Ferguson Road, Lakehill’s second campus is the seventeen-acre Roger L. Perry (RLP) Campus. It is a perfect location to engage children in nature. With its graceful walkways, sweeping trees, existing creek, and pristine athletic fields, the property feels majestic and park-like, yet welcoming and calming.
Roger L. Perry
Campus Highlights
The Roger L. Perry (RLP) Campus features seven acres of natual landscaping and water features, as well as a three-quarter acre stocked pond backed by 43 acres of City of Dallas floodplain.
Alice and Erle Nye Family
Environmental Science Center
Two dry labs and a wet lab
A conference room
Office space
The Great Hall
Athletic Facilities
Football and Soccer Stadium
Baseball Field
Softball Field
Tennis Courts
Field House
Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center
Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
-John Muir
Overview
Lakehill Preparatory School’s Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to hands-on, immersive environmental education. Nestled on more than 40 acres of pristine, untouched land, the center provides students with unparalleled opportunities to explore nature and engage in dynamic scientific discovery.
Students from kindergarten through eighth grade visit the Environmental Science Center regularly as part of a structured, progressive curriculum designed to deepen their understanding of ecological concepts. Thematic lessons build from year to year, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging environmental science education. Upper School students can further their studies through courses such as AP Environmental Science, which utilizes the center’s unique resources for advanced fieldwork and research.
“Our Environmental Science Center provides students with an immersive experience that fosters a deep connection to the natural world,” says Roger L. Perry, Head of School. “Through hands-on exploration and realworld applications, we empower students to become informed and responsible environmental stewards.”
The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and conservationists, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to make sustainable, environmentally sound decisions that impact their world.
Background and History
Nestled on 17 acres along Ferguson Road, Lakehill’s Roger L. Perry Campus offers an ideal environment for hands-on learning and outdoor exploration. With its scenic walkways, vibrant flora, towering trees, natural creek, and pristine athletic fields, the campus provides a peaceful, park-like setting that inspires curiosity and discovery.
At the heart of this campus is the Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center, a cutting-edge facility designed to enhance environmental education. This dynamic space allows students to engage deeply in subjects such as environmental science, biology, and chemistry through immersive, real-world experiences. Additionally, interdisciplinary courses in math, art, history, and world languages periodically incorporate the center’s resources to explore environmentally related topics from diverse perspectives.
With its unique natural features and commitment to hands-on learning, the Roger L. Perry Campus continues to be a place where students connect with nature, think critically about environmental issues, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the world around them.
Why Go Green?
According to the U.S. Green Building Council:
• Buildings generate 39% of total CO₂ emissions in the United States and consume 76% of power plantgenerated electricity.
• The design, construction, materials, and operation of buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the economy.
• School buildings represent the largest construction sector in the country.
• Green buildings save energy and water while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing waste.
• Compared to traditional school buildings, green schools use 33% less energy, 32% less water, and reduce solid waste by 74%.
The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center was one of the first facilities in Dallas to achieve LEED certification, a rigorous and forward-thinking process that aligns with Lakehill’s commitment to sustainability.
“When building the Environmental Science Center, it only made sense to pursue LEED certification. We wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the site while ensuring long-term cost efficiency. Good Fulton & Farrell did a fantastic job bringing our vision to life, creating a first-class facility that reflects our dedication to environmental stewardship.”
— Roger L. Perry, Head of School
Sustainable Design Strategies
The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center remains dedicated to the study of the natural environment, serving as a hub for environmental education at Lakehill Preparatory School. The facility includes three laboratory classrooms and a Great Hall, which functions as a communal gathering space for the school community. The design of the building, which harmonizes with its natural surroundings, integrates a variety of sustainable strategies, all of which contribute to its goal of achieving LEED Certification for Schools. As Roger L. Perry, Head of School, often reflects, “We are committed to creating a space that not only reflects our mission of environmental stewardship but also enriches the educational experience for our students.”
Here are some of the building’s key sustainable design strategies:
Minimal Site Impact: The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center is located on the northeast corner of Lakehill’s Roger L. Perry Campus in Dallas, on a previously undeveloped portion of the school’s satellite athletic campus. Nestled within a wooded area, the facility preserves the site’s natural beauty by minimizing disturbance to the landscape. With the site sloping towards a small creek, the design includes a combination of ground-level and raised sections, ensuring that the natural topography, mature trees, and dense undergrowth remain intact.
Views: As a building devoted to the study of the environment, it was critical to establish a strong visual connection between the interior and the surrounding nature. Nearly 40% of the exterior walls are composed of insulated, tinted windows, which not only enhance natural light but also minimize heat gain, protect against ultraviolet rays, and allow for an abundance of natural color. From the Great Hall, expansive views of the treetops and surrounding landscape are offered in three directions, providing a constant connection to the natural world.
Generous Roof Overhangs: The architectural design features deep roof overhangs on the building’s south and west sides, which provide shade, reduce glare, and help to control solar gain. A linear porch along the publicfacing side of the building offers protection from the elements and creates an inviting path to the main entrance. At the rear of the building, a large covered deck provides an outdoor classroom space and observation platform at treetop level. This deck also doubles as an event space for school functions, including Homecoming and Prom, where the indoors and outdoors seamlessly merge.
Daylighting: The long, narrow footprint of the building, along with the strategic placement of windows, maximizes natural daylight throughout the interior. This design allows for minimal use of artificial lighting, as daylight will illuminate most of the building during the day. The lighting system is optimized with energyefficient controls, adjusting based on available daylight or specific activity requirements. The bi-level switching system allows for energy savings by adjusting light intensity without the need for dimmers, which can waste energy.
Local Materials: The construction of the Environmental Science Center incorporates locally sourced materials, minimizing the environmental impact of transportation. The flagstone used in the plaza is quarried from Oklahoma, and the brick used for the building’s exterior, along with the concrete foundations, is sourced from Texas. Additionally, the structural steel, storefront framing, and metal roofing were all fabricated within a 500mile radius of the campus.
Awards and Honors: In 2009, the Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center received recognition at the United States Green Building Council North Texas Chapter’s annual Member Extravaganza, an event celebrating the region’s outstanding sustainable building projects. Lakehill Preparatory School is also a proud member of the TXU Solar Academy and a founding participant in the Green Ribbon Schools Program, having been honored for Excellence in Environmental Education for three consecutive years.
As Roger L. Perry, Head of School, notes, “The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center stands as a testament to Lakehill’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental education. It is a space that exemplifies our dedication to fostering a deep connection with the natural world.”
New Facility Earns LEED Certification
The Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center is proud to have earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification for Schools from the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED is a globally recognized green building certification system that provides third-party verification of a building’s sustainable design. This certification signifies that the building was developed with strategies to enhance energy savings, improve water efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and enhance indoor environmental quality, all while demonstrating sensitivity to resource stewardship and minimizing environmental impact. As Roger L. Perry, Head of School, states, “Achieving LEED certification reflects our commitment to not only providing exceptional educational spaces but also fostering an environment that aligns with our dedication to sustainability and the well-being of our community.”
Why LEED Certification Matters:
LEED-certified buildings are designed to operate more efficiently than conventional buildings, which typically only meet basic building codes. These buildings focus on sustainability, often offering healthier, more productive environments for students, teachers, and staff. With features like ample natural light, superior acoustics, and safe indoor air quality, green buildings promote better health, comfort, and overall well-being. These environments contribute to higher productivity and enhanced learning experiences, making them ideal spaces for educational growth.
What is LEED Certification?
In the U.S. and around the world, LEED certification is the gold standard for measuring a building’s sustainability. Achieving LEED status is a clear indication that a building has met rigorous environmental and health-related criteria. The LEED rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is designed to encourage building practices that reduce the environmental impact of construction and improve the health and well-being of occupants.
The LEED system evaluates buildings across five major sustainability categories:
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
The LEED process is open and transparent, with proposed criteria publicly reviewed by a broad coalition of over 10,000 organizations that are part of the USGBC. This ensures that every project meeting LEED standards is held to the highest level of environmental and health performance.
As Roger L. Perry, Head of School, emphasizes, “The LEED certification of the Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center is more than a recognition of sustainable building—it’s a demonstration of our school’s ongoing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and the health and productivity of our students and staff.”
Environmental Science Center Curriculum
The ESC curriculum is designed to immerse students in hands-on learning. Each grade level focuses on a central theme, explored through six field trips that investigate different aspects of the topic. These experiences bring science to life, fostering curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Kindergarten - Animals
Communication
Building Homes
Life cycles
Moving
Finding Food
Staying Safe
1st Grade - Birds
Feathers
Wings
Beaks
Eggs
Songs
Scavenger Hunt
2nd Grade - Insects
Anatomy - Beetles
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Camouflage - Mantises and Stick Insects
Movement - Crickets, Katydids and Grasshoppers
Social Insects - Ants, Bees and Wasps
Metamorphosis - Butterflies and Moths
3rd Grade - Flowering Plants
Flower dissection and collection
Pollination
Extreme Plants - Adaptations
Roots
Tropisms - Movement
Seeds
4th Grade- Trees
Forestry
Leaf Pigments
Trunks - Rings
Invasive, Non-native species
Identification
Decomposing trees, Trees as a habitat
5th Grade - Soil
Weathering and Decomposition - Soil Building
Soil Collection and identification
Soil testing
Composting
Soil Organisms - Fungus
Soil Animals, Crayfish in the forest
6th Grade - Water
Water Cycle
Macroinvertebrates
Pond Water Tests - Nitrogen Cycle
Tap Water tests - Water quality
Water Characteristics experiments
Deep Sea - Pressure and Adaptations
7th Grade - Citizen Science
Entomology - Insect Collection
Botany - Plant Identification
Forestry - Reading Plots
Ornithology - Identification and Bird Survey
Mammals - Identifying Candy Animal Scat
Ichthyology - Fishing
8th Grade - Environmental Energy
Chemical energy in the environment
Thermal Energy
Magnetic and Electrical energy
Solar House Build
Solar House Experiment Fishing
Warrior Athletic Complex
Lakehill’s athletic facilities include the Warriors Football and Soccer Stadium, Basketball and Volleyball Gym, Baseball Field, Softball Field, Tennis Courts, and Field House. Athletic events, off-season training, and extracurricular activities are held at Lakehill’s Main Campus as well as the Warrior Athletic Complex on the Roger L. Perry Campus. A two-story press box offers space for concessions, equipment storage, observation area, announcer’s booth, and live broadcasts of games.
Football and Soccer Stadium
The football and soccer stadium seats 1200 fans and has the highest quality natural grass turf available. It is a family-friendly environment with a beautiful natural setting and there is a special grilling area that offers food and fellowship at all sporting events.
Tennis Courts
The tennis courts were built in 2006 with four UTSA-approved, professional grade courts.
Warrior Baseball and Softball Fields
The baseball and softball fields were designed and built by W.O. Adams, who also built fields for the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Each field has a top-of-the-line scoreboard and is regulation size consistent with professional and collegiate standards. These fields are highly sought after, we even hosted the New York Yankees for a regional baseball tryout.
