Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center Receives 2021-22 Caudill Award

Contributed Report
Posted 3/9/22

The Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center, 5825 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road, has received the 2021-22 Caudill Award. This award is the highest honor for the TASA | TASB Exhibit of School Architecture (EoSA) competition.

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Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center Receives 2021-22 Caudill Award

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The Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center, 5825 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road, has received the 2021-22 Caudill Award. This award is the highest honor for the TASA | TASB Exhibit of School Architecture (EoSA) competition.

A jury member noted that the design of the center stood out primarily owing to its capacity to serve the entire K-12 population of the district, which today is about 90,000 students. The facility’s design was especially notable because it incorporates significant historical elements of the agricultural industry. The structure is also used for various activities, including instruction, rodeo, and community events.

A 12-member jury selects the finalists. The jury consists of four members of the school board, four administrators, and four representatives of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). Each project is judged in the following categories: community, planning, transformation, design, value, and innovation.

Caudill Award winners were selected among 22 projects receiving Stars of Distinction.

“Katy ISD is very proud and thankful to be the recipient of the Caudill Award,” Lisa Kassman, district facilities director, said. “The Agricultural Facilities Center is an amazing facility for our students and community.”

With its 8,250 square feet of space, the center can accommodate student exhibitions, expanded parking, and future high school space needs. Additionally, it provides hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for students throughout all grade levels that put theory into practice in the areas of environmental science and biology. Facilities include a multipurpose outdoor covered arena, a show arena, an enclosed pavilion for housing temporary farm animals, and a student project center.

“The facility design was truly a community effort that began in 2013, with the formation of a design committee made up of community members, business leaders, rodeo, FFA members, students, teachers, administrators, as well as family members of the individuals whom the facilities were named after,” Todd J. Lien, AIA, Managing Partner of VLK Architects, said. “The resulting buildings and grounds reflect the strong history of agricultural science in the area and in Katy ISD.”

Texas architect William Wayne Caudill (1914-1983) is the namesake for the award. TASA and TASB facilitate the Caudill Award at the EoSA competition. Each project can receive up to six Stars of Distinction to qualify for the Caudill Award. Stars of Distinction are awarded based on the project’s design, value, sustainability, community, planning, and school transformation.

Projects which received Caudill Awards were honored at the annual 2022 TASA Midwinter Conference on Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Katy ISD, Gerald D. Young Agriculture Services Center