College Station ISD Breaks Ground on New CTE Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/30/23

The College Station Independent School District in College Station, Texas, recently broke ground on a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. The district partnered with VLK Architects on the facility, which will serve both of its high schools, according to a news release. Funding for the project comes from a 2021 bond, and the first phase of construction is scheduled for completion by summer 2024.

The CTE Center’s first phase involves the construction of a district Agricultural Barn featuring 60 pens for small animals and 20 pens for cattle. It also includes a multipurpose arena to host both agricultural shows and CTE field trips, as well as expositions for students of all ages across the district. The building will also leave room for flexibility and expansion as the district agriculture program grows, the news release reports.

“There are many students in our district who want to show livestock,” said CSISD Director of Communications Chuck Glenewinkel. “Some of them to not have the ability to do so because of lack of land to do so, or homeowner association regulations in their neighborhoods. This facility will make it possible for all CSISD students to have the opportunity to learn accountability, bookkeeping, and showmanship, and if they are successful, they are financially rewarded at the end. There is power in learning the value of hard work and the rewards that accompany it.”

The school district and VLK Architects also partnered with construction engineering firm Salas O’Brien to determine the barn’s optimal mechanical, electrical, and plumbing requirements. The facility will feature wash stations, grooming stations, and storage areas subdivided to each high school that will give students the responsibility of maintaining their own spaces.

“VLK is honored to have partnered with College Station ISD in the design of the Agricultural Barn, the first within the school district,” said VLK Principal Melissa Fleming. “We are excited by the opportunities this facility will provide for all CSISD students.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Kraus-Anderson Completes Improvements at Minnesota Middle, High Schools

    Construction management, real estate, and risk management firm Kraus-Anderson recently announced that it has finished two K–12 renovation projects in Minnesota, according to a news release.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

Digital Edition