New Katy ISD Agricultural Sciences Center Dedicated

Katy, Texas – The Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences facility has received an expansion for the benefit of Katy ISD’s FFA and Agricultural Sciences program and the whole community. With the tremendous growth of Katy ISD in mind, modern structures were created to allow for evolving student needs and to allow students and teachers to interact outside of the classroom from the school barns to the project center, the eco-pond, show pavilion, and covered rodeo arena.

“We are excited to bring something this revolutionary to Katy ISD and the State of Texas," said Todd Lien, Partner, VLK Architects. “Not only is this a tremendous expansion of the original facility but it is also providing a lasting legacy for the Gerald D. Young, L.D. Robinson, and W.E. “Billy” Morgan families that were honored here today.”

Katy ISD Agricultural Sciences Center

The new facility will host not only FFA student projects but also the annual FFA student livestock show. Students in the district will have the opportunity to experience hands-on learning as they relate to the many facets of agricultural education. Students will be able to learn about plant and animal life systems, research diseases, and parasites that impact the lives of both. The Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center supports the belief that real-world experiences are the best learning experiences for students.

Not only does this program produce future farmers, but also future educators, scientists, business owners, and community leaders.  Each building in the complex provides a venue for the advancement of Agricultural Education. L.D. Robinson Pavilion will house the livestock and allow up to 2500 guests to enjoy the annual FFA Progress shows. The W.E “Billy” Morgan arena can accommodate 5000 spectators in a covered Rodeo Arena and the Project Center contains classrooms and Lab spaces that support the Agricultural Sciences curriculum.

“Katy, then, and now, has changed tremendously,” said Lex Allgaier, grandson of W.E. “Billy” Morgan. “We may not be the small rice farming community we once were, but that passion for agriculture still lives on by the sheer numbers of those involved in FFA in the Katy district. “This arena is proof that this passion is still strong and burning through in Katy. It is a blessing for my grandfather to be recognized for such an amazing facility.”

About VLK Architects: With offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas, VLK Architects provides architecture, planning, and interior design services to K‐12, higher education, corporate and institutional clients throughout Texas.

About Katy ISD: Katy ISD is a flourishing suburban school district that encompasses 181 square miles in southeast Texas. Its eastern boundaries stretch to Houston's energy corridor approximately 16 miles west of downtown Houston and extend along Interstate 10 to a few miles west of the city of Katy.

Featured

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD

    Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) recently announced that it has broken ground on two renovation projects for the Austin Independent School District, according to a news release. The work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.

  • S4L Launches 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched its 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which gathers information on K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide from the previous year. The data we get from you, our readers, forms an industry report offering an overview of current trends in school facilities.

  • Aims Community College to Build Workforce Innovation Center

    Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., recently announced that it has broken ground on its new Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC), according to a news release. The facility for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education has a scheduled opening date of fall 2026.

Digital Edition