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Waco STEAM Center: construction on track; Transformation Waco tests curriculum and community pilots
Summary
City staff and Transformation Waco told the council construction of the Bledsoe Miller STEAM Center is on schedule for 2025 completion and programming pilots—ranging from robotics to senior tech classes—have been tested. Funding is chiefly federal and local, and the city plans a program launch in January 2026.
City staff, Transformation Waco and library leaders updated the Waco City Council work session on Sept. 16 on the Bledsoe Miller STEAM Center, reporting that construction and program development are on schedule and that community pilots have validated several curriculum elements.
Deputy City Manager Deidre Emerson said the project has assembled more than $13.5 million in combined funding from sources including ARPA, a congressional special appropriation, city CIP funds and corporate donations, and that the project is “on budget and on schedule with the completion set for the 2025.” Emerson credited local partnerships and federal compliance work for keeping the project on track.
Joshua (Josh) Butcher of Transformation Waco summarized Phase 2 program development, saying the organization moved from concept to tested lessons this year by piloting curriculum in schools and at community events. He described partnerships with Discovery Education (which provides e‑learning content and corporate sponsorship connections), the U.S. Naval Academy for hands‑on STEM activities, Cisco for networking curriculum, and local higher‑education partners including TSTC, McLennan Community College and Baylor. Butcher said pilots have included robotics, virtual reality, maker activities and summer STEM camps with local students.
Roberto Zapata, director of libraries and cultural enrichment, and facilities staff reported construction progress. The council packet lists a $13.8 million project budget and staff said $11.8 million of that amount is already committed. Council materials and staff noted the construction contract was awarded to Mazanic Construction in December 2024; structural and rough‑in work is complete and interior finishes are underway. Change orders total about 10.2% so far and staff said that remains well under the state 25% threshold for changes to a contract.
Staff also described an enhanced, space‑themed outdoor play area connected to the center. The council previously approved $1.2 million for the playground replacement; design features cited by staff include two age‑segmented play zones, a rubberized ADA‑accessible surface, shade sails, night lighting and elements intended for sensory and inclusive play.
Transformation Waco described outreach and program testing at schools, the public library and community events; examples included a STEM expo for after‑school students, summer STEM camps in partnership with Goodwill and an ongoing slate of senior tech classes delivered through AARP’s Senior Planet curriculum. Butcher said the work aims to serve “K to gray” audiences and to create intergenerational programming.
Staff said the next steps are final procurement of furniture and equipment, IT and AV fit‑out, and facility setup and prelaunch tasks. The target for public programming opening was presented as January 2026.
Why it matters: the STEAM Center is positioned as a community learning hub with workforce and lifelong learning partnerships; staff and Transformation Waco emphasized tested curriculum and partner commitments as key to an on‑time, on‑budget launch.
