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