Board approves schematic design for Galena Park High School phases 3–5, including multipurpose facility and new field house

The Galena Park Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 14 voted 7–0 to approve the schematic design for Galena Park High School phases 3 through 5, a master‑plan rebuild presented by PBK Architects.

PBK’s team described a multi‑phase replacement intended to demolish and rebuild campus elements in a sequence that avoids portable classrooms and limits temporary staging. The plan calls for a new field house (phase 3A) to be built first so the old field house can be removed, followed by a larger athletics complex, a multipurpose arena integrated with a three‑story classroom wing, and final work on the administration/front entry and visitor parking in phase 5.

PBK associate principal and project manager Gloria Carlos said the team has developed a building program totaling about 414,712 gross square feet and is designing to a rule‑of‑thumb range of roughly 180–200 square feet per student; she said the program equates to about 193 square feet per student under current assumptions. “Where we land with that, you’ll see the number 414,712,” Carlos said.

Design highlights shown to the board included a public‑facing main entry on King Street with administration, library and a “Main Street” lobby connecting fine arts and dining; a multipurpose facility intended for competitions, robotics and large gatherings that also could serve as a community shelter; new practice fields positioned for band and athletics; and a field house with a two‑story weight room and coach offices under the existing Dement Field. PBK said the plan respects an on‑site easement between the academic wing and athletics complex and anticipates that area will be fenced for student security.

PBK emphasized phasing strategies to minimize disruption: existing phase‑1 classrooms will be connected and renovated where possible, and the multipurpose and fine‑arts areas will be built so they can be used while other parts of the campus are reconstructed. The presentation included 3‑D visualizations and interior concept images showing student sightlines into the multipurpose space and connections from the CTE and academic wings.

Trustees and community members praised the design during the meeting; several attendees who identified as alumni described the plan as a significant community investment. PBK said the district has completed a phase 1 (14 classrooms) and the CTE addition and that phases 3–5 represent 315,000 additional square feet of new construction over the existing campus footprint.

The board’s approval moves the project to design‑development and document phases where budget reconciliation and detailed phasing will be finalized, the PBK team said. The schematic presentation noted the district and design team will continue to monitor the project budget and reconcile scope during design development.

The motion to approve the schematic design was made by Trustee Noe Esparza and seconded by Trustee Linda Sherrard.