Blinn Board of Trustees authorizes architectural services for new Bryan Campus administration building

Board also names new Brenham Campus student housing complex Prairie Lea Hall

November 16, 2021

The Blinn College District Board of Trustees authorized the College to negotiate and execute a contract for architectural services and seek proposals for a construction manager at risk related to a new administration building on the Blinn-Bryan Campus during its meeting Tuesday.

The $30.95 million project includes construction of an approximately 45,000-square-foot administration building at the location of the former Rivergate Church. This facility will house Blinn’s bookstore, police department, and administrative offices, as well as student services currently located in the Central Administrative Services Building at the Tejas Shopping Center, including academic advising, enrollment services, and financial aid.

Additionally, Blinn will extend Nash Street to create a new campus entrance with an accompanying monument sign, and demolish the existing church, adjacent structures, and the Bryan Campus S Building. The project timeline calls for the administration building to be ready for occupation in fall 2023.

The board also authorized the College to name the forthcoming Brenham Campus student housing complex Prairie Lea Hall. The new, approximately 500-bed residence hall is located on Prairie Lea Street and scheduled to open for student use in fall 2022.

In other business, the board authorized the College to negotiate and execute contracts for:

• the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the RELLIS Campus administration building;
• engineering services related to the College Avenue street and sidewalk realignment on the Brenham Campus;
• engineering services and to seek proposals for construction related to chiller replacement and building automation upgrades on the Bryan Campus;
• and architectural services and to seek proposals for construction related to interior upgrades and access control upgrades on the Bryan Campus.