IDEA Science Lab Conversion at IDEA Tres Lagos in Mcallen, TX

IDEA Public Schools has registered a renovation project at 5200 Tres Lagos Blvd in McAllen, Texas. The filing, identified as the IDEA Science Lab Conversion at IDEA Tres Lagos, describes a 1,000 sq ft alteration involving the conversion of an existing classroom into new science labs. The estimated cost for this work is $200,000, which calculates to $200 per square foot.

The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in March 2025. Plan review was completed in the same month, and the construction start date listed in the filing is also March 2025. The scheduled completion date on the record is August 2025. Although this date has passed, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, so the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record.

Project Scope and Funding

The scope of work is specific: converting existing classroom space to function as science laboratories. This is classified as a Renovation/Alteration project. The filing indicates that this project involves public funds, public land, or is a Federally funded roadway project. The registered accessibility specialist for this work is Isaac Ochoa. The owner of record is IDEA Public Schools.

In Hidalgo County, the median estimated cost for similar renovation and alteration filings is $250,000. This project’s $200,000 estimate is below that county median. However, the cost per square foot of $200 is above the county median of $70 per square foot. The scheduled build window for this project was 173 days, which is longer than the county median of 92 days for comparable work.

IDEA Public Schools has other registered projects in the region, including IDEA Mcallen in McAllen and IDEA Pharr Phase 3 in Pharr. The Tres Lagos location is part of a broader presence by the school network in the Rio Grande Valley. The area is served by ZIP code 78504, where the U.S. Census Bureau estimates a population of about 61,816 and a median household income of $77,627.

The project status remains in the public record as Review Complete. No final inspection has been logged to indicate that the work is finished and verified. Readers should note that construction status and business operations are distinct; the TDLR record only tracks the regulatory compliance of the physical alteration, not the daily activities of the school.