FORT WORTH, Texas (January 21, 2025) – Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD), the oldest co-educational college-preparatory school in Fort Worth, has completed construction on its new $25 million, 32,720-square-foot Annie Richardson Bass Lower School Building, which replaced FWCD’s former Lower School building originally built in 1964.
A formal dedication ceremony was held on Monday, January 13, the same day that more than 325 students in grades 1 through 4 occupied the new Lower School building for the first time, just one year after construction commenced.
Designed by nationally acclaimed architecture firm Lake|Flato, with Hocker Design handling landscape architecture and Linbeck as the general contractor, the highly anticipated Lower School represents an era of progress and innovation for the FWCD community. Constructed as part of the school’s historic
Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign, the building provides an inspiring, light-filled, indoor-outdoor learning environment, integrating both groundbreaking designs and sustainable elements that prioritize modern educational needs while preserving FWCD’s rich environmental legacy.
"The opening of the Annie Richardson Bass Lower School symbolizes our community’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional learning environments for our students," said Eric Lombardi, FWCD head of school. "This building embodies the passion, ingenuity and generosity of so many who believe in FWCD’s mission. It will elevate students' educational experiences while connecting them to the natural beauty of our 104-acre campus.
“But Fort Worth Country Day has never been just about the buildings. We’re about the people,” Lombardi continued. “This building came to life during the morning of Jan. 13 when the students arrived at 7:30 a.m.”
A Vision of Innovation and Connection
FWCD’s new Lower School was thoughtfully designed to integrate learning with the exceptional outdoor environment FWCD is known for: It is infused with natural light, connections to the outdoors, tuned acoustics, and appropriate technology to expand the school’s delivery of future-focused experiences and activities. Among its many highlights are:
- Natural light-infused learning spaces designed for 21st-century education, with large windows, adaptive technology, and acoustics that enhance active learning.
- A focal-point 2,002-square-foot library featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, reading nooks, and large sliding glass doors that open into a central courtyard surrounding a cherished icon—a 30 to 40-year-old Chinquapin Oak tree.
- Dedicated spaces for discovery, including two science labs, a collaboratory/makerspace, and tutoring rooms for small-group learning.
- Outdoor learning areas and creative play spaces tailored to encourage exploration, imagination, and collaboration.
One of the most cherished features of the new school is “Chuck,” a 30 to 40-year-old, 22,000- pound, 25-foot-tall Chinquapin Oak that was carefully relocated from Canton, Texas, to its new permanent home at the center of the Lower School courtyard. The tree – also known as FWCD’s “Storybook Tree” – is set to become a beloved gathering spot for students and a unifying symbol of growth, resilience and connection for the FWCD community.
“The Chinquapin Oak represents everything our new Lower School stands for—rooted in tradition, yet growing to meet the needs of the future,” said Heather and Ryan Senter, public phase chairs of FWCD’s Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign. "Seeing students chant ‘Let's Go, Tree!’ as it was moved into its new home last fall was the perfect reminder of what this project means to all of us."
Community at the Heart of Progress
The new Lower School wouldn’t have been possible without the support of more than 300 families, foundations, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees who participated in the Forward Together Campaign. Their generosity has raised an impressive $40 million, funding not only the Lower School, but also athletic fields enhancements and endowment growth for tuition assistance, professional development, and academic programs.
“This is the largest and most ambitious comprehensive campaign in FWCD's history,” said Lombardi. “The impact will be felt not just by today’s Falcons but by generations to come. We are deeply grateful to every donor, volunteer, and committee member who helped make this dream a reality. In the end, this is an absolutely stunning school building, but it is most importantly a space in which we will continue to build and celebrate community. “
A Transformational Dedication
To commemorate this milestone, FWCD hosted a dedication ceremony at 5 p.m. on January 13, 2025, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, donors and friends. The formal event included remarks from alumni, campaign and school leaders, and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; student readings and a performance; a building ribbon-cutting; and dedications throughout 28 rooms and areas of the building.
"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our school's history," Lombardi said during the building dedication. "The Annie Richardson Bass Lower School is more than a building—it’s a hub for creativity, a sanctuary for learning, and a testament to what we can achieve when we move forward together."
ABOUT FORT WORTH COUNTRY DAY
Since 1963, Fort Worth Country Day has inspired the passion to learn, the courage to lead, and the commitment to serve through a program that fosters the intellectual, physical, emotional, and ethical development of its students. Situated on 104 acres in southwest Fort Worth, Fort Worth Country Day’s 220 faculty/staff members lead and teach grades JK-12. Offering a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum, Fort Worth Country Day focuses on the 3A’s—academics, arts, and athletics—to bring balance to students’ experiences, provide opportunities to explore multiple interests, and thrive in a compassionate community. To learn more about Fort Worth Country Day, visit
www.fwcd.org or
www.Facebook.com/FortWorthCountryDay.
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