Texas K–12 District Tops Out Agricultural Sciences Complex

The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District in Pecos, Texas, recently celebrated a topping out ceremony for its new Agricultural Sciences Complex, according to a news release. Members of the community gathered on April 25 so that FFA students from Pecos High School could sign their name on the last steel beam.

“The PBTISD Agricultural Science Complex will support many students across the district of all ages and our High School FFA program,” said PBTISD Superintendent Brent Jaco. “The district is excited to provide a space for students interested in agriculture and to give them a place where they will be able to come and raise their livestock for showing season.”

The Agricultural Science Complex is a metal barn measuring in at 13,550 square feet that will contain classrooms, administrative space, and storage space for tools and food for the animals. Livestock pens will have access to running water and electricity, and the facility also includes a grazing area and arena, wash bays, overhead doors with bird screens for cross-ventilation, and infrared unit heaters and fans for year-round temperature control, according to the news release.

The district partnered with VLK Architects for the project’s design. The complex is a district capital project and is currently scheduled for completion by November 2023.

“VLK is honored to be a part of this topping out ceremony marking a significant milestone in the construction process,” said VLK Principal Monika Castillo. “We have been very fortunate to partner with PBTISD to design the new Agricultural Sciences Complex that will provide students with hands-on learning opportunities.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

Digital Edition