Dallas College: Brookhaven Early College Center

Dallas College: Brookhaven Early College Center

Project Overview

The Brookhaven Early College Center represents a major step forward in Dallas College’s commitment to expanding access to hands-on academic pathways for high school learners. Glenn|Partners led the architectural vision for a new, two-story education building paired with selective renovations across the existing Brookhaven campus. Worth Engineering supported the team with mechanical and electrical engineering services—helping ensure that systems performance, constructability, and campus integration matched the project’s academic goals.

The project included a new two-story, steel-frame education building featuring masonry, metal panels, curtain wall, and a PVC roof system. Inside, the program delivers classrooms and four specialized labs across approximately 43,000 sq ft, along with 27,339 sq ft of renovations to adjacent campus buildings. Outdoor improvements included new hardscape, landscape, and utilities designed to connect the addition with the broader campus environment.  

Across the board, Worth Engineering’s role centered on responsive collaboration—coordinating with Glenn|Partners, the general contractor, campus stakeholders, and trade partners to support a smooth design and construction process for the Summer 2023 opening.

Project Goals We Supported

A Modern Learning Environment for Early College Students

Brookhaven’s Early College Center needed systems that would support high-performing classrooms and specialized lab environments while remaining straightforward for campus facilities teams to operate. Worth Engineering helped align MEP design decisions with the school’s programmatic and long-term maintenance priorities.

Seamless Integration with Existing Campus Infrastructure

Much of the project’s complexity stemmed from blending a new facility into active campus utilities and circulation patterns. Our team worked closely with Dallas College and Glenn|Partners to confirm tie-ins, future load capacities, and the best layout for new utility routing.

Practical, Constructible Solutions for a Tight Schedule

Because the Early College Center was scheduled to open for the academic year, budget clarity and construction efficiency were essential. Worth’s mechanical and electrical teams emphasized coordination with the GC and trades from early design onward—reducing surprises and smoothing installation sequences.

Brookhaven Dallas Campus

Mechanical Engineering Approach

Prioritizing Comfort, Efficiency, and Maintainability

The new two-story education building called for HVAC solutions that provided consistent comfort across classrooms and labs while remaining easy to service. Worth Engineering designed systems that met performance requirements without unnecessary complexity—an approach appreciated by both the facilities staff and the construction team.

Lab Ventilation and Zoning

The four new labs each required unique ventilation considerations tied to occupancy, equipment loads, and teaching styles. Worth Engineering coordinated early with the architect and Dallas College program staff to ensure the systems matched real-world use while maintaining code compliance and operational efficiency.

Existing Building Renovation Strategies

Renovations in the 27,339 sq ft of existing campus buildings included targeted upgrades, rebalancing of mechanical systems, and ensuring new equipment integrated properly into legacy campus infrastructure. Our team balanced performance improvements with cost sensitivity, avoiding over-design in areas where modest adjustments achieved the necessary results.

Lighting in Dallas Brookhaven Campus

Electrical Engineering Approach

Powering a Flexible Academic Environment

The Early College Center’s electrical design focused on supporting modern learning technology, student circulation, and specialized lab equipment. Worth Engineering coordinated power distribution throughout the new and renovated spaces, ensuring clear pathways for future adaptability.

Lighting That Supports Learning

Interior lighting solutions emphasized comfort, controllability, and visual clarity. Our team coordinated fixture selection with Glenn|Partners to complement the architecture while meeting energy code and operational expectations.

Campus Utility Integration

The team provided new utility infrastructure supporting the building expansion while maintaining campus continuity. Careful routing and phasing helped minimize disruptions during construction—critical given the active-campus setting.

Lighting in Dallas Brookhaven Campus

Collaborative Highlights

Tight Coordination Within a Live Campus

Working around ongoing campus operations required thoughtful planning. Worth Engineering partnered closely with the GC and campus facilities staff throughout construction to review shutdown sequences, confirm existing-site conditions, and resolve tie-in challenges quickly.

Clear, Responsive Communication

Throughout the project, our team emphasized straightforward communication—meeting the fast-moving schedule with quick turnaround on RFIs, documentation, and on-site coordination. The result was a smoother path for the entire team as deadlines approached.

Supporting the Architect’s Vision

Glenn|Partners designed a building that feels connected to the existing campus while giving students a modern academic environment. Worth Engineering’s role focused on making the building’s performance and operations match that vision—through reliable systems, strong coordination, and practical engineering solutions.

Project Impact

The Early College Center now provides Dallas-area students with a dedicated facility designed to support early college coursework, technical learning, and long-term academic success. The building operates efficiently, integrates smoothly with existing campus systems, and gives the Brookhaven community a future-ready learning environment.

For Worth Engineering, the project reflects our approach to educational work: collaborate closely, listen first, contribute meaningfully, and deliver systems that help learning environments thrive.

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