Texas High School Breaks Ground on New CTE and Science Wing

The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District in Pecos, Texas, recently broke ground on a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science Wing at Pecos High School, according to a news release. The district is partnering with VLK Architects for the project’s design.

Amenities will include special program spaces for technical skills like cosmetology, vet tech, and culinary arts. It will also host the school district’s esports competition team and feature a multimedia lab with large displays for gaming. The district is partnering with Reeves County Hospital to offer a health science lab simulating healthcare facilities. Finally, the wing will feature heavy daylight and collaborative learning spaces.

“This building will be a state-of-the-art facility where our students can develop knowledge and skills to carry them beyond high school,” said Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Superintendent Brent Jaco. “Our Eagles will truly soar to new heights with the education and skills they will gain in this new CTE and Science facility.”

The new wing will measure in at 70,000 square feet and is scheduled to open in July 2024. Funding comes from a bond passed by local voters in 2021.

“VLK is grateful to be a part of the groundbreaking celebration for the new CTE and Science Wing at Pecos High School,” said VLK Architects Principal Monika Castillo. “The collaboration with the district, its community, and BTC has enabled us to provide an engaging facility for students to explore opportunities and prepare them for future endeavors.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.