A pair of recent meetings – one with the Spring ISD Board of Trustees and another with stakeholders from throughout the district and surrounding community – have shed further light on what can be expected from the upcoming Education, Performance and Instruction Center (EPIC), a project stemming from the Bond approved by voters in 2022.

At last month’s meeting of the Spring ISD Board of Trustees, board members and those in attendance heard from representatives of HKS, the architecture firm behind the design and planning of EPIC. The firm’s representatives presented the design process thus far, including a schematic design for the new center, which will feature multiple venues under one roof including an arena that will be able to hold thousands of people as well as spaces for performing and visual arts and academic uses for UIL events. 

Architects are taking inspiration for the design of the center to be focused on natural light, calling EPIC a “beacon of light, showcasing the exceptional talents of our students and exemplifying the excellence of our district.” The center is meant to be a “symbol of pride for our parents, a community hub that celebrates the boundless potential” of Spring ISD.

“EPIC is one of the centerpiece projects of our bond campaign,” Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa said. “We are excited to offer our students and employees a beautiful place to gather and celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of everyone in Spring ISD. We are also excited to further expand our footprint in the area surrounding our Planet Ford Stadium, and to showcase our district in a pair of state-of-the-art facilities.”

Further, the guiding principles of the project – as defined by the district and presented by HKS at the board meeting – include EPIC serving as a community landmark, venue, classroom, and an instructional center offering participatory learning and experiences, the ability to showcase every student regardless of what extracurricular activities they participate in, integrating instruction with performance and real-world experiences, and self-sustaining community value that provides social, cultural and economic value to the surrounding community.

The presentation also included an overview of community feedback collected and the design process so far, as well as an anticipated overview timeline for the project. The current schedule calls for final construction documents, bidding, and permitting to take place throughout the rest of this year, with construction beginning at some point in mid-2025. The project will culminate with the facility’s substantial completion set for early 2027.

Late last month, the architects also met with a committee of stakeholders from throughout Spring ISD. Members of the committee – which includes parents, students, teachers, and school leadership – have been a part of planning for EPIC throughout its planning process. Members also include representatives from Career and Technical Education, Athletics, and Performing and Visual Arts, which will all have components in the center.

The meeting was centered around three models of the design of the EPIC, which allowed attendees to pick up and move around the site layout. The discussion centered around the three main groups – CTE, Athletics, and PVA – and their ideas for the venue.

“As we move throughout the planning process and get closer to initial construction next year, it’s been vital for us to listen to the ideas and feedback of those who will be using EPIC the most,” said Joanis Riebl, Project Manager with Spring ISD. “Since this is meant to be a gathering place for everyone in Spring ISD, it was important that we get as much information from our stakeholders as possible in order to make the most of EPIC.”

More information on EPIC and the rest of the Spring ISD Bond can be found at www.springisd.org/bond.