The Blinn College Board of Trustees authorized administrators to begin seeking proposals for furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the first academic building at the new Waller Campus. The college will now request bids for audio-visual technology, information technology hardware, security systems, and other amenities for the facility. This building is intended to serve as the foundation for the college's 100-acre Waller Campus.
The project involves an 82,000-square-foot facility with a total cost of $68 million. The design accommodates approximately 2,500 students and includes modern classrooms, teaching laboratories, student support spaces, administrative offices, meeting areas, and food service. Groundbreaking for the campus took place in March.
Mark Feldhake, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Planning and Construction, stated that the project budget allocates $7.95 million specifically for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. These costs will be covered by Fiscal Year 2026 bond funds and unrestricted cash.
Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley provided an update on construction progress, noting that the construction manager at risk has completed excavation and compaction for the building pad and retention ponds. Crews have started pouring concrete, and work is currently underway on underground sewer, plumbing, and electrical systems. The college is also coordinating the extension of utilities and fiber communication services to the site.
Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor for Student Services, presented a preliminary enrollment report for the Summer II session. The student headcount reached 3,498, a decrease from 3,839 in the same term in 2025. McBride noted that both the fall and spring semesters experienced higher enrollment compared to the previous year.
