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

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.

  • ZeroEyes, Academic Innovators Partner to Provide Safety Solutions

    ZeroEyes, which produces a multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, recently announced a partnership with Academic Innovators, according to a news release.

  • 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.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.