Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas K–12 District Tops Out Agricultural Sciences Complex

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/26/23

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

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • 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.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.