College Station ISD Breaks Ground on New CTE Center

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

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.