DSHS - C. I. & R. - Portables

Dripping Springs Independent School District is installing three portable classroom buildings at 940 US-290 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The project, filed as DSHS - C. I. & R. - Portables, involves a renovation and alteration scope designed to temporarily accommodate students while the existing campus facilities undergo ongoing improvements. The total estimated cost for this installation is $280,000, covering the placement, anchoring, and accessibility provisions for the new structures.

The work is scheduled to finish in May 2027, with construction starting in May 2026. TDLR completed the plan review in June 2026, marking the review as complete. The registered accessibility specialist for this filing is Kathy Ann Riley, ensuring the portables meet required standards. The project is privately funded on private land for private use, a designation that distinguishes it from typical public bond-funded construction projects in the county.

Project Scope and Design

PBK Architects, Inc. serves as the design firm of record for this initiative. The scope specifically includes the installation of three portable units to maintain academic continuity during the renovation period. The total area involved is 23,000 sq ft, which results in a computed cost of $12 per sq ft. This figure is notably below the county median of $95 per sq ft for similar renovation and alteration filings in Hays County.

Hays County has seen 268 registered renovation and alteration projects in the last 24 months, with a median estimated cost of $250,000. This project’s cost is close to that median, though its scheduled build window of 364 days is longer than the county median of 92 days. The Dripping Springs Independent School District has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $153,220,810, including significant renovations at Dripping Springs High School and Dripping Springs Middle School. PBK Architects, Inc. has also worked on six other projects totaling $34,553,483, including work in Houston and Wylie.

The project is located in ZIP code 78613, an area with a population of about 89,162 and a median household income of $120,829 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates. The housing stock in this area is mostly owner-occupied, with a median owner-occupied home value of $461,900. The Hays County unemployment rate was 4 percent in July 2026, higher than a year earlier, reflecting broader economic conditions during this construction period.