Groundbreaking of Nolan Estes Plaza Marks Historic Moment for Dallas ISD and Downtown
BOWA Construction, Post L Group, and EJ Smith Construction Lead First-Ever Joint Venture of Its Kind on a DISD Project
DALLAS, TX — On June 26, the vision for a transformative educational campus in the heart of Downtown Dallas officially broke ground with the launch of Nolan Estes Plaza. This landmark project will be led by a historic joint venture between BOWA Construction, Post L Group, and EJ Smith Construction—the first of its kind in the history of Dallas ISD. “This project isn’t just about building a school,” said Nosa Ehimwenman, BOWA Construction President, “It’s about building momentum, opportunity, and lasting impact for the students of Dallas- the vision of Nolan Estes. There has not been a joint venture (like ours) to lead a project like this in Dallas.”
This milestone partnership will lead to the construction of a dynamic, multi-age educational campus designed to foster connections, opportunities, and growth from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, in the heart of Dallas. This campus will serve as a real-life example of collaboration among future generations.
The $80 million, 142,000-square-foot, three-story Nolan Estes Plaza will bring together three schools on one campus: Downtown Montessori Academy (DMA), CityLab High School, and Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA). “This school has been a dream for over a decade,” said Jennifer Scripps, President & CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc. “It is central to the vision of downtown as a complete neighborhood, with great schools, parks, grocery stores, and entertainment. With over 15,000 residents living downtown, the timing and impact of this project are monumental.”
DISD Superintendent, Dr. Stephanie S. Elizalde added, “We need to invest in our kids. This is about more than construction—it’s about sending a message to our students and community about where our priorities truly lie.”
The BOWA - Post L -EJ Smith joint venture represents a bold step forward for Dallas ISD and the Dallas construction market. As the district’s first project led by a team structured in this way, it serves as a model for how collaborative leadership can drive meaningful, community-centered development. The leaders of the joint venture—Nosa Ehimwenman from BOWA Construction, Jeffery Postell from Post-L Group, and Eugene Walker from EJ Smith Construction—are truly excited about the innovative construction approach of this project and its powerful influence on both current and future students.
About the BOWA Post L and EJ Smith Joint Venture
BOWA Construction, Post L Group, and EJ Smith Construction are nationally respected firms with deep roots in community-driven construction. Together, they bring decades of experience delivering innovative, mission-critical projects across education, civic, and infrastructure sectors.
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