With golden shovels in hand and cookies iced with architectural renderings, Spring ISD officially broke ground this week on the district’s newest and most visionary project — the Education, Performance and Instruction Center, or EPIC.

Set to rise just south of the Randall Reed Center at Planet Ford Stadium, the EPIC facility will stand as a beacon of student achievement across the district. Funded by the 2022 Bond and designed by HKS Architects, the $141 million project is expected to be completed by the 2026–27 school year.

The groundbreaking ceremony drew a wide array of supporters, including campus principals, families, district administrators, and elected leaders. Former Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter joined local officials and community members in celebrating the launch of what many called a historic investment in Spring ISD’s future.

“EPIC is not just a name—it’s a declaration,” said Spring ISD Board President Justine Durant. “I believe it also stands for Empowering Possibilities through Innovation and Creativity. It’s a place where our students will have the space to imagine, to create, and to thrive. It’s where their dreams will be nurtured, their talents discovered, and their futures shaped.”

The EPIC facility will include a 4,000-seat arena, a 1,000-seat main performance hall, a 200-seat academic and recital hall, locker and dressing rooms, a visual arts gallery, lobby and concessions, a multipurpose pavilion, instructional rooms, and dedicated space for culinary and back-of-house operations. An additional 2,000 parking spaces will be added to the Planet Ford Stadium complex, bringing the total to 3,000.

Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa called the project a bold reflection of the district’s mission and imagination.

“When you walk through its doors, you’ll step into a place where innovation meets inspiration,” Hinojosa said. “From state-of-the-art fine arts spaces to cutting-edge athletic facilities, EPIC is designed to elevate the student experience in ways we’ve only dreamed of before.”

Guests at the event gathered around the construction site for photos with ceremonial gold shovels, commemorating the start of the project with a sense of celebration and purpose. Nearby, custom cookies topped with the EPIC rendering served as a sweet reminder of what’s to come.

“EPIC will be a place where dreams take root, where creativity thrives, where champions are made, and where futures are shaped,” Hinojosa added. “It is proof that when we come together—when we share a vision and put in the work—there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”

The district’s CTE Director Cynthia Williams, and Athletics Director Derrell Oliver, spoke about the significant benefits the new facility will bring to their programs. To conclude, Dr. Joe Clark, Director of Performing and Visual Arts, shared what EPIC will mean for students. 

“So, to our students—I say this: your voice, your vision, your creativity matter,” Clark said. “In 2027, you will have a space worthy of all your gifts—academic, athletic, and artistic. To our families and community—you’ve supported the arts in Spring ISD with your applause, your encouragement, and your pride. This facility is for you, too—a place to celebrate your child’s brilliance and your role in nurturing it.”

For more information and updates on the EPIC project, visit www.springisd.org/bond2022.