College Station ISD Agriculture Science Center
Owner: College Station Independent School District
Architect: VLK Architects
In the heart of the Brazos Valley, where agriculture plays a key role in the local economy and community identity, SpawGlass is helping to lay the foundation for the next generation of agricultural leaders. College Station Independent School District (CSISD), which has long recognized the importance of hands-on learning in agricultural science, entrusted our team to build its new Agriculture Science Center, a 24,800-square-foot, pre-engineered metal structure housing approximately 100 custom-designed animal pens, washing and grooming stations, and a practice arena for competitive animal showing.
This project, built by the SpawGlass-Brazos Valley team in partnership with VLK Architects, serves as an interactive learning environment for A&M Consolidated High School and College Station High School students interested in the agricultural industry. The new facility, which also serves as a dedicated livestock barn for College Station ISD’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs, is designed to be a space where students can gain real-world experience, learning the skills they need to succeed in agricultural careers.
From the onset, the project faced budgetary constraints that required a creative approach. Led by Chief Estimator Dustin Wilson, our preconstruction team played an essential role in mitigating these limitations, working closely with VLK Architects to redesign the structure’s shape and roof in an effort to reduce costs without sacrificing the features and functionality CSISD envisioned. With a shared commitment to the project’s success, the design and construction teams focused their energies in a common direction, ensuring every decision was made with the same goals in mind.
To keep the project moving smoothly after the redesign process, the SpawGlass-Brazos Valley Building Services team was enlisted to handle self-perform work, installing animal pens, bird netting and non-structural steel. By focusing on efficiency, our team was even able to deliver items on the school’s wish list of extra features, from additional animal pens to a looped drive designed for animal trailers. Another element contributing to the project’s success was establishing strong relationships with local trade partners. With roots deep in the Brazos Valley area, these subcontractors were passionate about supporting the district and its students and took pride in building a facility that will serve their home community.
The addition of the Agriculture Science Center represents a significant investment in the future of CSISD, creating opportunities that will benefit generations to come. The team’s dedication to the district’s vision was evident throughout the entire project. CSISD President Kevin Ross remarked, “The team did a great job making sure the building was what the end user wanted, and they were willing to have conversations with us along the way.” The opening of the new facility was met with excitement from both the community and the students, who jumped right in, ready to use the space to prepare for their fall competitions.
For the SpawGlass-Brazos Valley team, this project meant more than schedules, budgets and bottom lines. As Senior Project Manager Drew Cain noted, “We’re working for the kids, so we knew we needed to do our best for them.” Now filled with prize-worthy animals and eager students, the Agriculture Science Center serves as our testament to living teamwork and fulfilling a promise to do our best – our absolute best.