Texas District Debuts New Agriculture Building

The Stafford Municipal School District in Stafford, Texas—part of the Houston metropolitan area—recently celebrated the opening of a new Agriculture Building. The 3,000-square-foot space cost a little over $1 million and has been in the works for more than five years, according to a news release. Students will begin using the new space this month.

Students from Stafford High School will use the space to keep and raise large farm animals. The facility consists of a concrete structure with a metal roof and includes amenities like a controlled entry access gate, security cameras, animal stalls with fans, a tack room, administrative space, parking and extended outdoor space for animals to feed. District students will show and compete with their animals at agricultural events like the Fort Bend County Fair and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

“Having a brand-new agricultural facility is very important to the students, parents and advisors,” said Victor Fleming, program manager for Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc., which oversaw the management of the project. “The new facility is great for the district’s agricultural science program and our community.  It will allow students the opportunity to apply skills and concepts they are learning in the classroom in a real-world setting.”

Once the space is up and running, elementary- and middle-school students will also visit to learn more about animal health and nutrition in a controlled environment.

“It’s a gift and reality to have an expanded and upgraded building. The previous facility had to be demolished to allow for a new access road, and this is truly a benefit for our students,” said SMSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.