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

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • 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.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.