As part of a planned 300,000-sq-ft, four-building complex for the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Texas A&M University System broke ground in early summeron its $62.4-million Agriculture Headquarters Building and Visitors Center on its main campus in College Station.
Designed by Houston architecture firm Kirksey, the five-story, 166,000-sq-ft Ag Headquarters Building will consolidate the various departments within the College of Agriculture into a single location on the west campus. The building will house educational, research, and administrative facilities.
Anchoring the complex, the two-story, 13,000-sq-ft visitor center and 4H/FFA museum is designed to showcase the history and significance of agriculture. “Agriculture is Life” is the theme driving the design of the Agriculture and Life Sciences complex.
Skanska is the construction manager for the project, which will seek LEED-silver certification. Unique sustainable features include rainwater collection and storage underground for use as irrigation, constructed wetlands and on-site gardening. The first two buildings are scheduled to open in 2011.
