Updated 9:50 a.m. Nov. 19.

Trustee Rob Reyes was not a member of the panel choosing architects and recused himself from the selection process and the discussion of the finalists. Superintendent Killian did not vote on the selection of the architectural firm because the superintendent position does not vote on board actions.

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Four Texas-based architectural firms will lead projects included in Pflugerville ISD’s recently passed 2018 bond.

The decision came following a unanimous vote from the PfISD board of trustees, with Superintendent Doug Killian and Rob Reyes abstaining due to their involvement in the selection process of the final candidates.

“These architecture firms, yes they can draw but they all bring different skill sets to it,” David Vesling, executive director of Facilities & Support Services for PfISD, said during a presentation to the board.

The four firms selected were O’Connell Robertson, Pfluger Architects, PBK Architects Inc. and Reliance Architecture.

When the district issued an RFQ, 20 firms responded, which were narrowed down by a panel of district staff including Killian and Reyes. Of the seven finalists chosen, the panel selected the four that were recommended to the board, Vesling said.

Austin-based firm O’Connell Robertson has been in operation since 1950 and has entered contracts with over 30 Central Texas school districts, according to the presentation.

"The [other districts O'Connell Robertson worked with] told me that they are really conscious about when they give prices they hit those numbers,” Vesling said.

Houston-based PBK Architects Inc. has been in business for 37 years, during 12 of which they have been contracted by PfISD, the presentation stated.

Vesling said one of the appeals of Pfluger Architects, which has been in operation since 1973 and worked with 58 school districts, is that it has demonstrated commitment to environmentally preferred products and energy-conservation efforts.

The newest of the firms, Reliance Architecture, has been in operation for 16 months, according to the presentation. The founding partners, however, have a combined 30 years of experience with education architecture, Vesling said.

Different bond projects, which include two new elementary schools and a middle school, will be assigned to each firm. The firms will then return to the board with preliminary designs and cost estimates, which will require approval by the board as well, Vesling said.