COLLEGE STATION, TX — VLK Architects recently joined College Station ISD in the groundbreaking of the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. This is the first phase of construction for this new facility and will serve both high schools in the district.

The first phase of the CTE Center consists of a district Agricultural Barn providing multiple levels of flexibility and expansion as the program continues to grow at each of College Station ISD’s campuses. The barn will include 60 small animal pens for sheep, goats, and hogs as well as 20 pens for cattle. The facility is designed with a multipurpose arena that can be used to host agricultural shows as well as various CTE related field trips and expositions for all grade levels.

“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.”

VLK partnered with Salas O’Brien to carefully study the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing needs of the ag program to ensure the facility operates at optimal performance for students and the livestock. Wash stations, grooming, and storage is subdivided to allow each high school to maintain responsibility for their own spaces.

“There are many students in our district who want to show livestock,” said Chuck Glenewinkel, CSISD Director of Communications. “Some of them do not have the ability to do so because of lack of land to do so or home-owner 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 first phase of the new CTE Center is a 2021 bond project and is expected to be complete by summer 2024.