The Bryan ISD administration building in March. (Karley Cross/Community Impact) (Karley Cross/ Community Impact)
Bryan ISD trustees approved contracts for design and construction planning related to three high school projects at the board’s March 23 meeting, advancing work funded through the district’s 2025 bond.
The projects total to more than $146.8 million, though design work has not begun.
What you need to know
The board unanimously approved contracts with Houston-based architecture firms VLK and PBK for renovations at Bryan and Rudder high schools, as well as the rebuild of Bryan Collegiate High School, respectively.
The cost
More than $98 million is estimated for renovations at BHS and RHS
Nearly $49 million is estimated for the rebuild of BCHS
Trustees noted costs could shift as these projects move through the design phase.
The details
Bryan Collegiate High School will be demolished and rebuilt at its same site, located at 1901 E. Villa Maria Road, Bryan, as according to official documents. Construction will include new parking driveways, a playfield and additional site amenities.
Documents say the campus will be able to serve up to 700 students.
For the renovated campuses:
Bryan High School, located at 3450 Campus Drive, renovations include:
Kitchen
Cafeteria
Locker rooms
Auditorium
Rudder High School, located at 3251 Austin’s Colony Parkway, renovations include:
New spaces for the barber/cosmetology program
Updated dance studio
Updated band hall
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brian Merrell said the district chose VLK following an extensive evaluation process. PBK will oversee design and construction administration for the BCHS rebuild.
The projects are still in their very early stages, and trustees raised questions about how inflations and market conditions could impact final costs.
Some context
The projects represent some of the largest investments included in the bond and are expected to modernize facilities and expand capacity at key campuses. District officials also noted how BCHS’s new building will be around for at least 50 years, so they want to get it right.
The total bond amount was proposed at $397 million.
Bryan ISD's 2025 bond proposal, proposition A (Courtesy Bryan ISD)
Also on the agenda
In other action, trustees:
Approved a contract with ESS to continue substitute staffing services for the 2026-27 school year
Received updates on budget development, including discussion of a potential voter-approval tax rate election
What’s next
District officials will continue refining designs and cost estimates before establishing construction timelines for each project.
Bryan Planning & Zoning advances two apartment projects
