Goals for St. Mark's IV challenged the School to "design, sustain, and provide state-of-the-art facilities that support a variety of teaching methods and enhance learning opportunities." Today, a stroll through campus reveals the myriad steps already being taken to meet this goal, from the state-of-the-art Science Center to the sprawling athletic facilities.

After more than five years of planning and construction, St. Mark's concluded the Science Center Project in 2019. In January, the Winn Science Center opened, giving students access to 50,000 square feet of the new science education facilities. In August, the McDermott-Green Science Center reopened following a complete renovation of its 25,000 square feet of labs, offices, and more. Uniting the buildings is a two-story glass connector with study areas on both floors.

While construction has completed, Goals IV also encouraged St. Mark's to use these facilities "to inspire innovative research, instruction, and learning." To this end, two new positions were added to the Science Department to take full advantage of the Science Center. A new Maker Space Director in the Winn Science Center will expand hands-on engineering, design, and interdisciplinary learning. And a new Lower School Science Specialist has already begun expanding the science curriculum in grades 1–4, utilizing the dedicated Lower School Science Lab in the Winn Science Center.

The Science Center Project is also a testament to St. Mark's commitment to institutional stewardship. Beginning with the Winn Family Foundation's seed gift of $10 million, the project was fully funded through contributions of more than $43 million before construction began. The project required no financing and incurred no debt.

“Today is indeed an incredible milestone for St. Mark’s as, once again, we reach for the stars, renew our commitment to innovation, and look to the future with a genuine sense of hope and optimism,” said David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster, at the opening of the Winn Science Center. “Boys, this building is for you. Make the most of it. Dream big. The future is truly in your hands.”

In August 2019, varsity athletes took a break from their pre-season training for an exciting preview of their new locker room. Thanks to a generous donor, crews spent the summer completely renovating one of the locker rooms in the Hicks Athletic Center, which will provide in-season athletes a more fresh and clear area to prepare and recover from practices and games, along with more individual space and comfort.

The new room includes 116 lockers, 60 of which include a forced-air ventilation system built into the storage area to quickly dry out shoes and uniforms. Each locker features a cushioned seat, electronic combination lock, power supply, and custom nameplate. The room also includes a hydration station, updated showers, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial carpet, new lighting elements, and specially designed lacrosse stick holders. The large, open layout will be significantly more functional for team gatherings during pre-game, halftime, and post-game meetings.

Elsewhere, the School's athletic facilities received a facelift, with new blue and gold bleachers, Lion-themed signage, a new scoreboard and sound system, and upgrades to the Mullen Family Fitness Center.

The Lions put these upgraded facilities to good use at they kicked off the 2019–2020 season. In their first home gaming suiting up in the new locker rooms, the varsity football team won 37–7 against Cistercian.

“The boys are enjoying the benefits of these new upgrades, and their excitement, energy, and enthusiasm is definitely palpable,” said Athletic Director Sean Lissemore. “The locker room has now become the ideal place for student-athletes to congregate. Overall, there has been a very positive response to the athletic improvements across campus.”

With more than a thousand faculty, staff, parents, and students on campus every day, St. Mark’s is a vibrant and bustling place. The parking lot begins to fill up just after dawn and rarely empties before sunset. Athletics, fine arts, and other activities keep the campus alive on weekends and even over holiday breaks. With so much activity, security and the well-being of the community is always a top priority.

Security at St. Mark’s is a careful balance between safety and freedom. A dedicated team of seven full-time security personnel work in shifts to keep the campus covered 24/7, backed up by off-duty Dallas Police officers. Leading this team is Dale Hackbarth, a 28-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department and Dallas SWAT. For nearly three decades, he has been a welcoming presence on campus, greeting visitors, managing traffic flow, and coordinating extra DPD officers during school events. In 2013, he retired from DPD to become St. Mark’s Head of Security.

Over the past few years, St. Mark’s has made changes to increase daily security. Several entry points are now locked during the school day, funneling traffic through designated entrances. More than 100 cameras placed discretely around campus allow Dale and his team to keep an eye on activity. A mass notification system ensures that parents and community members will be kept informed in the event of a security incident, severe weather, or other emergencies. Parents, faculty, and staff are required to wear ID badges. Other visitors must check in and have their driver’s license run through an identification system that cross-references local and statewide criminal databases. As Dale says, “If visitors have any negative history, we’re alerted and escort them off campus.”

St. Mark’s security personnel are a constant presence on campus. But the individuals keeping the School safe are much more than silent protectors operating behind the scenes. They are important members of the everyday community. Dale encourages his team to get involved, which furthers their primary mission: protecting the boys. While patrolling Lower School, security guard Kent Witt helps pitch games of kickball. Martin Hoffer volunteers his time and mountaineering skills on Middle School campouts. And DPD Officer Beverly Ma, who is fluent in Chinese, regularly talks to students in foreign language classes.

“I believe, as do many experts, that it still comes down to the people—the teachers, security officers, parents, and students—who can identify potential problems and help resolve issues before there is danger to anyone on campus,” Dale says. “Safety is the responsibility of everyone on campus.”