Sam Houston State Bleachers in Huntsville, TX

The Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas, recently completed a renovation that added a student section of bleachers. This project, filed under the name Sam Houston State Bleachers, involved an estimated cost of $200,000 for 2,860 sq ft of construction work. The facility is located at 800 Bowers Blvd in Walker County, serving the Sam Houston State University campus. The renovation focused specifically on enhancing seating capacity for students within the existing coliseum structure.

Project Scope and Financials

Sam Houston State University acted as the owner of record for this alteration, with Kirksey serving as the design firm. The scope of work was limited to the addition of the student bleacher section, a targeted improvement rather than a full building rebuild. At $70 per square foot, the project cost sits close to the county median for similar renovation and alteration filings. The total investment is below the median estimated cost of $237,405 for comparable projects in Walker County, indicating a focused, budget-conscious upgrade to the facility's amenities.

The construction timeline spanned from July 2025 to December 2025, a scheduled build window of 153 days. This duration is longer than the 122-day median build window for similar projects in the area. Janel Carona Bloom served as the registered accessibility specialist, ensuring the new bleachers met required standards. The project was privately funded on private land for private use, typical of university infrastructure improvements.

Regulatory Status and Completion

TDLR registered the project in November 2025, and plan review was completed in the same month. The final inspection passed in January 2026, confirming the construction met all necessary codes. TDLR closed the project file in March 2026, which marks the end of the accessibility review process for this construction. This closure signifies that the regulatory oversight for this specific renovation is complete, and the physical addition of the bleachers is finished.

Sam Houston State University has registered six other TDLR projects totaling over $87 million, including the Active Learning Center and Elliott Hall. Kirksey, the design firm, has worked on six other projects totaling over $51 million, including the TC Energy Center. The Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum renovation is one of many infrastructure investments by the university, contributing to the broader development of campus facilities in Huntsville. The project’s completion adds to the university’s portfolio of renovated and newly built spaces.