The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center and Athletic Stadium

Houston, Texas

Firm

PBK

Client

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District

Area

276,245 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$72,897,808

Completion Date

03/2006

A landmark for the community of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD), the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center (Berry Center) provides a comprehensive, multipurpose venue for district events, athletic competitions, fine-arts performances and conferences. The only facility of its kind in the nation, the Berry Center exudes excellence in design, functionality and community connectivity.
The center combines six unique venues on one site: district administrative offices that house the athletic department, building management and “Partners in Education” programs; a two-level indoor arena that accommodates 9,500 spectators at full capacity; a 16,000-square-foot conference/staff development center that can be reconfigured into 16 spaces for staff training, conferences and receptions; a 456-seat performing-arts theater; a commercially equipped kitchen, catering facility and satellite food-production center; and an 11,000-seat football and soccer stadium that connects to the main facility and offers full-service concession stands, public restrooms, a two-story press box, as well as additional shell space for future expansion.
The district’s decision to combine an 11,000-seat stadium and a 9,500-seat arena on the same site allowed designers to maximize parking and circulation efficiency, save on site costs, and provide the most energy-efficient venue for all project requirements.
The interiors of the Berry Center are designed to highlight the celebration of student achievement. An abundance of color and patterns on the interior showcases the “academic life” of a student attending CFISD schools. To honor the district’s longstanding tradition of honoring student and teacher “stars” every year, the Texas Lone Star logo theme and graphics are applied throughout.