Palestine ISD Career & Technology

Palestine ISD Career & Technology is a new 34,040 sq ft educational facility under construction at 1600 TX 256 Loop in Palestine, Texas. The project, valued at $18,000,000, is scheduled to finish in December 2027, with work starting August 2026. TDLR completed plan review in June 2026, establishing the timeline for this significant addition to the district's infrastructure.

Facility Scope and Design

The building is designed by Barham Architects, LLC to house career and technology classrooms along with a community meeting room. The lower floor specifically includes a culinary arts classroom, a storm shelter, and a combined teaching kitchen/concession area. Student amenities on this level consist of restrooms and locker rooms. The registered accessibility specialist for the project is Jeffery L Kelley.

The estimated cost of $529 per square foot places this project above the county median of $152 per square foot for new construction filings in Anderson County. The total cost is also in the top quarter of the 114 TDLR-registered new construction filings in the county. The scheduled build window of 517 days is longer than the county median of 213 days, reflecting the complexity of the scope.

Owner and Regional Context

Palestine ISD is the owner of record and has one other TDLR-registered project in the area, the Student Activities Center, which is closed. Barham Architects, LLC has six other registered projects totaling $17,886,000, including work for Texas College and Techserv. The project involves public funds and is located in Anderson County, where the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in July 2026.

The ZIP code 75801 has a population of about 16,891 with a median household income of $53,485. Housing in the area is mostly owner-occupied, with a median home value of $163,100. This new facility adds to the educational and community resources available in the Palestine area, serving both students and the broader community through its meeting room and culinary programs.