diff --git a/vortex-array/public-api.lock b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
index d1a798eae06..b1ec105ab49 100644
--- a/vortex-array/public-api.lock
+++ b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
@@ -12296,7 +12296,9 @@ pub fn vortex_array::scalar::Scalar::from_proto_value(value: &vortex_proto::scal
 
 impl vortex_array::scalar::Scalar
 
-pub fn vortex_array::scalar::Scalar::struct_(dtype: vortex_array::dtype::DType, children: alloc::vec::Vec<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>) -> Self
+pub fn vortex_array::scalar::Scalar::struct_(dtype: vortex_array::dtype::DType, children: impl core::iter::traits::collect::IntoIterator<Item = vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>) -> Self
+
+pub unsafe fn vortex_array::scalar::Scalar::struct_unchecked(dtype: vortex_array::dtype::DType, children: impl core::iter::traits::collect::IntoIterator<Item = vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>) -> Self
 
 impl vortex_array::scalar::Scalar
 
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/struct_/vtable/operations.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/struct_/vtable/operations.rs
index dba7a594ed1..111832a20b3 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/struct_/vtable/operations.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/struct_/vtable/operations.rs
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ use crate::vtable::OperationsVTable;
 
 impl OperationsVTable<StructVTable> for StructVTable {
     fn scalar_at(array: &StructArray, index: usize) -> VortexResult<Scalar> {
-        let field_scalars: VortexResult<Vec<_>> = array
+        let field_scalars: VortexResult<Vec<Scalar>> = array
             .unmasked_fields()
             .iter()
             .map(|field| field.scalar_at(index))
             .collect();
-        Ok(Scalar::struct_(array.dtype().clone(), field_scalars?))
+        // SAFETY: The vtable guarantees index is in-bounds and non-null before this is called.
+        // Each field's scalar_at returns a scalar with the field's own dtype.
+        Ok(unsafe { Scalar::struct_unchecked(array.dtype().clone(), field_scalars?) })
     }
 }
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/struct_.rs b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/struct_.rs
index acc56e195c4..ce571350a5b 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/struct_.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/struct_.rs
@@ -279,12 +279,13 @@ impl<'a> StructScalar<'a> {
 }
 
 impl Scalar {
-    /// Creates a new struct scalar with the given fields.
-    pub fn struct_(dtype: DType, children: Vec<Scalar>) -> Self {
+    /// Creates a new struct scalar with the given fields, checking dtypes at runtime.
+    pub fn struct_(dtype: DType, children: impl IntoIterator<Item = Scalar>) -> Self {
         let DType::Struct(struct_fields, _) = &dtype else {
             vortex_panic!("Expected struct dtype, found {}", dtype);
         };
 
+        let children: Vec<Scalar> = children.into_iter().collect();
         let field_dtypes = struct_fields.fields();
         if children.len() != field_dtypes.len() {
             vortex_panic!(
@@ -305,9 +306,24 @@ impl Scalar {
             }
         }
 
-        let mut value_children = Vec::with_capacity(children.len());
-        value_children.extend(children.into_iter().map(|x| x.into_value()));
+        let value_children: Vec<_> = children.into_iter().map(|x| x.into_value()).collect();
+        Self::try_new(dtype, Some(ScalarValue::List(value_children)))
+            .vortex_expect("unable to construct a struct `Scalar`")
+    }
 
+    /// Creates a new struct scalar from an iterator of field scalars, skipping dtype checks.
+    ///
+    /// # Safety
+    ///
+    /// Caller must ensure:
+    /// - `dtype` is `DType::Struct`
+    /// - The iterator yields exactly as many scalars as `dtype` has fields
+    /// - Each scalar's dtype matches the corresponding field dtype in `dtype`
+    pub unsafe fn struct_unchecked(
+        dtype: DType,
+        children: impl IntoIterator<Item = Scalar>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let value_children: Vec<_> = children.into_iter().map(|s| s.into_value()).collect();
         Self::try_new(dtype, Some(ScalarValue::List(value_children)))
             .vortex_expect("unable to construct a struct `Scalar`")
     }
diff --git a/vortex-python/src/scalar/factory.rs b/vortex-python/src/scalar/factory.rs
index 81286574a17..d4a0e000cf1 100644
--- a/vortex-python/src/scalar/factory.rs
+++ b/vortex-python/src/scalar/factory.rs
@@ -151,12 +151,14 @@ fn scalar_helper_inner(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>, dtype: Option<&DType>) -> PyRes
                 )));
             }
 
+            let children: Vec<Scalar> = dict
+                .values()
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|item| scalar_helper_inner(&item, None))
+                .try_collect()?;
             return Ok(Scalar::struct_(
                 DType::Struct(dtype.clone(), *nullability),
-                dict.values()
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|item| scalar_helper_inner(&item, None))
-                    .try_collect()?,
+                children,
             ));
         } else {
             let values: Vec<Scalar> = dict