Texas State University - Pitching Lab & Batting Cages

Texas State University is constructing a Softball & Baseball Pitching Lab at Charles Austin in San Marcos, a project filed with TDLR under the name Texas State University - Pitching Lab & Batting Cages. The development adds 18,700 sq ft to the existing athletic infrastructure, with an estimated cost of $4,000,000. The scope includes an addition to the current softball pitching facility and a new pre-engineered metal building structure to house baseball's pitching and hitting facility. The project is targeted for October 2028.

PBK Architects Inc. serves as the design firm of record for this addition to an existing building. The registered accessibility specialist for the project is Martha Pena Weiss. The filing indicates the use of public funds, public land, or a Federally funded roadway project. The construction start date per the filing is September 2026, aligning with the TDLR registration date in the same month. The status remains Project Registered, with plan review pending.

Regional Construction Context

This project's estimated cost of $4,000,000 is above the county median for its type in Hays County, placing it in the top quarter of similar filings. The median estimated cost for the 194 comparable TDLR-registered additions to existing buildings in the area is $476,400. The scheduled build window of 745 days is longer than the county median of 213 days for similar projects. The cost per square foot stands at $214, which is above the county median of $152 per square foot.

Texas State University has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $23,270,000, including the ALERRT Center and the Undergraduate Academic Center. PBK Architects Inc. has designed five other projects totaling $26,756,074, ranging from the Wilson County Community and Expo Center to the College of the Mainland Administration Building. The San Marcos area, ZIP 78666, has a population of about 87,775 and a median household income of $55,478 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates.

The Hays County unemployment rate was 4 percent in July 2026, higher than a year earlier. This project represents a significant investment in athletic facility improvements, combining existing structure modifications with new metal building construction to support both softball and baseball programs. The specific scope ensures dedicated spaces for pitching and hitting, enhancing the university's athletic training capabilities.