Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/19/23

The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District (PBTISD) recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, Austin Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility was designed by VLK Architects and serves students in grades PreK–1.

“VLK is grateful for the partnership we have established with both Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and its community,” said VLK Architects Principal Monika Castillo. “It is very rewarding to see the impact that this new facility is bringing to the students and staff of the district and the opportunities that will be provided to the education being delivered to PBTISD.”

The school measures in at 87,000 square feet and features amenities like focused learning nooks, music rooms, art rooms, and a thousand-foot drop-off lane to speed up the flow of traffic. The school’s façade also features the historic archway from Pecos Elementary School.

“The grand opening of the new Austin elementary is a celebration of our community’s resilience and determination,” said PBTISD Superintendent Brent Jaco. “It reminds us that we can all unite to ensure our children have the resources they need to thrive. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and today, we are building a brighter future for generations to come.”

Funding for the project was included in a May 2021 bond, the news release reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • 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).

  • 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.