KAI Completes New Student Engagement Center on Dallas College’s Cedar Valley Campus
DALLAS (Feb. 25, 2025) The Student Engagement Center on Dallas College’s Cedar Valley Campus is designed to inspire learning, foster collaboration and strengthen community engagement. More than just a building, this multi-functional facility is a place where students, educators and the surrounding community can come together.
KAI in collaboration with Dallas College designed a thoughtful space that flexibly responds to the evolving needs of high school and college students as well as the broader community. At its heart is the Early College Center, an initiative that empowers high school students to earn college credits in a supportive and academically enriching environment. In addition to classrooms and an E-learning/gaming suite, the Student Engagement Center also features a multi-purpose room, a dining area that serves as a social hub, an open commons that encourages collaboration and an inviting outdoor learning space.
The Dallas College Student Engagement Center serves as a vital asset for Cedar Valley and beyond. Its $24.4 million investment was celebrated last year with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cedar Valley Campus in Lancaster, Texas, marking a significant step in advancing education and community development.
“We wanted to create a space that met everyone’s needs, and that meant designing a building that is the heartbeat of the Cedar Valley campus,” said KAI Vice President Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, WELL AP. “The Student Engagement Center is both a dynamic learning environment and an adaptable facility that benefits the entire Cedar Valley community. We are grateful to the students, faculty, staff and Dallas College leadership who provided the insights and vision that helped bring this project to life.”
In addition to architecture, KAI provided comprehensive services for the 50,000-square-foot facility, including programming, interior design, MEP engineering and construction administration. KAI’s unique community-focused expertise helped create a new building that appears seamlessly intertwined with the fabric of the existing campus and nestled into the surrounding landscape thanks to an optimal site near Cedar Valley Lake.
The Center’s two-story design prioritizes adaptability. The main floor features flexible spaces for campus and public events, including a 6,300-square-foot multi-purpose room that can accommodate large gatherings, educational programs and public events. Designed for versatility, the room can be quickly subdivided into a main event space with three adjacent breakout rooms.
To the west, the student activities suite provides open office space for student organizations, fostering collaboration and leadership development. Across the corridor, the Digital Commons offers access to state-of-the-art, corporate-partner-supplied technology. On the upper level, nine classrooms and huddle rooms are equipped with the latest technology infrastructure, creating learning environments that support both individual and group study.
Anchored by a grand staircase and expansive views of Cedar Valley Lake, the commons area serves as a vibrant gathering space, accommodating up to 250 participants for activities and events. Adjacent to the servery, the commons creates a welcoming atmosphere that extends outdoors to a spacious, shaded plaza—an inviting setting for dining, studying, or simply unwinding.
KAI’s architects and MEP engineers worked closely together, creating a striking curtain wall that enhances both aesthetics and performance. High-performance glazing, strategic sun shading, and brick masonry on the south and west facades provide energy efficiency while tying the building to the campus’ architectural character.
Beyond the structure itself, designers transformed the space between the new facility and the gymnasium into a landscaped plaza—an inviting, park-like setting that serves as a natural gathering space for students and visitors. The building’s central utility plant and services were strategically placed to the south, allowing for future expansion while maintaining a seamless campus connection.
With its thoughtful design, adaptable learning spaces, and integration into campus life, the Student Engagement Center embodies Dallas College’s commitment to education, collaboration, and community for generations to come.
About KAI Enterprises
KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm providing delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience, in-house multi-discipline professionals, and expertise in both design and construction delivery. Founded in 1980, KAI has grown into one of the largest minority-owned and -led firms in the AEC industry. In 2025, KAI is celebrating 45 years of transforming communities through its expertise in residential, commercial, K-12, higher education, healthcare, science and technology, aviation, mobility, sports and entertainment, government, water and community-focused projects. KAI Enterprises is comprised of four distinct business units—KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and KAI 360 Construction Services. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com
The post KAI Completes New Student Engagement Center on Dallas College’s Cedar Valley Campus first appeared on Informed Infrastructure.
DALLAS (Feb. 25, 2025) The Student Engagement Center on Dallas College’s Cedar Valley Campus is designed to inspire learning, foster collaboration and strengthen community engagement. More than just a building, this multi-functional facility is a place where students, educators and the surrounding community can come together. KAI in collaboration with Dallas College designed a thoughtful…