PECOS, Texas—Personnel from the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and staff from VLK Architects jointly celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the district’s new Agricultural Sciences Complex—the seventh project the two entities have collaborated on. Just before the final beam was hoisted into place, students from Pecos High School signed their names to the length of steel, ensuring their own connection to the edifice for posterity.

The 13,550-square-foot structure will be utilized specifically for instruction in livestock sciences. To undertake this mission, the ASC will be home to classrooms, storage space, areas for animal feeding, as well as staff and other offices. Livestock pens will have direct access to grazing areas as well as a show arena, and students will obtain in-the-field training in washing and grooming the animals. Bird screens are being installed to provide adequate ventilation, and a dedicated heating system and fans will keep the barn reasonably cool.

The ASC is anticipated to be open and running come November.

“The PBTISD Agricultural Science Complex will support many students across the district of all ages and our high school FFA program,” Brent Jaco, superintendent of Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, said at the topping out. “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.”

Added VLK Principal Monika Castillo: “VLK is honored to be a part of this topping-out ceremony marking a significant milestone in the construction process. 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.”

VLK operates from Lone Star State offices in Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Austin. The firm has been heavily involved in educational construction throughout Texas.

The post VLK Tops Out On 7th Project with Texas School District appeared first on School Construction News.

PECOS, Tex.—The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District has broken ground on a new athletic facility that will be the toast of this area of southwestern Texas as it replaces an older facility on the same site.

As redesigned from its former iteration, Eagle Stadium at Rotary Field will be the venue where the Pecos High School Eagles play their home football games. In addition to the new field, the complex will feature bright lights suitable for outdoor night-time play and a very large central entry plaza. The field will be utilized for soccer, track and field, band practices as well as various other events and celebrations.

According to the Odessa American, in the summer of 2021 the old Eagle Stadium was declared not structurally sound, and thus the fall football season there had to be scrapped. The ISD’s board of education approved a budget of $17.5 million that autumn for the renovation, and the project broke ground in the first part of 2022.

As designed by VLK Architects, the new Eagle Stadium will feature concession stands, seating for both visitors and home fans, as well as a state-of-the-art press box. The redesigned stadium will also feature new turf and a track that has been totally resurfaced.

VLK Architects is working in conjunction with BTC Construction for the next era of Eagle Stadium at Rotary Field.

According to the Odessa American, the old stadium had a seating capacity of 5,000, but the redesigned facility will only be able to seat 4,000.

“We are excited to bring a new, dynamic stadium to PBTISD that will be the envy of other districts across West Texas,” Brent Jaco, Superintendent of PBTISD, said in a recent statement about the athletic field and stadium. “Though the former structure is gone, the land remains…this land has been the site of athletic events for over 90 years in the community. So, the memories will always remain for everyone that comes through PBTISD.”

Added Monika Castillo, AIA, Principal of VLK Architects: “VLK Architects is excited to be a part of this project that will impact so many people in the PBTISD community. This is the second construction project across the district, and it has been an honor to continue our relationship with PBTISD.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in August.

VLK Architects has its main offices in Houston and Fort Worth. In addition to the work at the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District, VLK’s other educational projects in the Lone Star State include Marine Creek Middle School and Cheney Hills Elementary School.

BTC Construction’s Texas educational projects include Montwood High School and Eastwood High School.

Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD began in 1883 as a single schoolhouse located along the Pecos River. The district now serves more than 2,600 students across five campuses.

The post New Stadium Coming to Southwest Texas High School appeared first on School Construction News.