College Station ISD School Board Greenlights High School Construction Projects
On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the College Station ISD School Board convened for a special meeting aimed at progressing $40 million improvements at the football stadiums and neighboring areas of Consolidated and College Station High Schools. The school board unanimously voted 6-0 in agreement with the administration’s recommendation to engage a construction manager at risk (CMAR) who will supervise the construction project.
The voter-approved “Proposition A” bond issue enacted in May 2024 supplies the funding for these extensive improvements. Although a precise timeline for project completion remains unspecified, the anticipated enhancements are detailed extensively on CSISD’s website.
A&M Consolidated High School Field House Addition
The plan proposes an expansion of approximately 8,000 square feet added to the A&M Consolidated High School Field House, spurred by the increasing number of student-athletes. The project includes renovating the interior of the existing structure and developing new facilities, such as expanded sports medicine facilities, baseball locker rooms and offices, concessions, restrooms, and two additional classrooms. Interior renovations of the existing structure would see a freshman football locker room, a repositioned coach’s office area to monitor the weight room, weight room expansion and upgrades, and interior finish upgrades.
A&M Consolidated Tiger Stadium Renovations/Expansion
The Tiger Stadium at A&M Consolidated High School will see its seating capacity increased from 5,238 to 6,300. New construction will include a press box, concessions, and restroom structures resembling those in College Station High School. The project also envisions the removal of the old structures, construction of new home and visitor ticket booths, renovation of both entrances, removal of the south-end bleachers, turfing of the north “D-Zone”, track resurfacing, and the addition of a digital scoreboard.
College Station Cougar Stadium Renovations/Expansion
The Cougar Stadium at College Station High School is set to match the seating capacity of A&M Tiger Stadium by increasing its own from 4,573 to 6,300 seats. The larger capacity necessitates the addition of more restrooms, in line with code requirements. Furthermore, repairs will be made to the existing press box exterior walls and roof, which have suffered chronic water damage. Embedded in the project is also the replacement of concrete around the visitor’s baseball and softball concession areas, the installation of a turf at the north “D-Zone”, track resurfacing, and the addition of a digital scoreboard.
The special school board meeting and consequential vote are the next steps in realizing a series of improvements for these educational institutions. These changes, once implemented, will affect thousands of students and staff members, improving the sporting facilities appreciably and facilitating better sporting experiences and opportunities.
Other News Around College Station
In other related news, the Brazos County Commission has proposed an increased property tax rate for the fiscal year 2025 budget which is under debate by commission members. The City of College Station is also set to debut a new shuttle bus service to and from Kyle Field for the upcoming Texas A&M football home opener games. Additionally, approval for Atmos Energy rate increases was granted by the College Station and Bryan City Councils, affecting natural gas customers who will start seeing an increase in their rates from October 1, 2024.
