Katy ISD Sponsored 624 Build Site

[Abhishek R]

To answer the questions on how we got to this point...It was a long, 5 plus year effort. We are an industry funded team (especially being near Houston's energy corridor, lots of oil and gas companies) aligned with a single high school (Cinco Ranch High School, 3000+ students) and currently do not have a build site on school property. We were easily out of sight, out of mind and had the appearance of an after school club for those that did not have exposure or understanding of FIRST. (Think your hobbyist robotics nerds who supposedly built minibots in a dark closet afterschool). We recognized we needed to let people know who Team 624 is and what FIRST is all about.

We focused on getting the school principal and staff, KISD School Board and School Superintendent to recognize the benefits of FIRST and the scope of FIRST Robotics and Team 624. We wanted them to understand what FIRST robotics means and what it can do, so we approached them like an active team member. We invited the Superintendent and Board Members to the build site (rented storefronts, different location each build season, and some showed up!), invites to the regional competitions (i.e Lone Star), and sent them frequent updates on our team activities.

The students made presentations at the end of each season at the board meetings that included the robot, shared with them our team videos, some attended our End of Year Banquets where they see our year round involvement and accomplishments, had major sponsors send notices to the board on how much they support FIRST (thank you BP, our founding and major sponsor), grew the FLL program in Katy and hosted FLL Tournaments and invited them to attend those, and we grew the number of FRC teams in the school district and kept the Board updated.

We brought back graduated students to talk at board meetings on what FIRST meant to them and how FIRST had shaped their path to college and how they were successful in college and after college. We got their attention and showed continued, sustained growth and success across multiple years. We also emphasized the fact that all the graduating seniors involved in Team 624 Robotics over the past 5 years have all gone on to college in pursuit of STEM related degrees. And always important, we emphasized that all the Katy FRC teams are self funded through industry donations and not drawing any funds from the school district for our yearly operating budget.

As the enthusiasm and recognition of FIRST Robotics grew, we asked to work with the appropriate school resources to establish a permanent build site for the teams. This was enthusiastically supported by Katy Superintendent Alton Frailey and he set into motion the development and proposal for the STEM Center. We were invited to participate in this process and worked closely with the architects, community representatives, and school representatives in putting together the design. The board then took on the task of funding and agreed the future of STEM in Katy was worth the investment.

It is a STEM Center, to be used as a resource by all the Katy Schools for activities such as Robotics (FRC and FLL) and the many other science oriented activities and projects that need centralized large work spaces to accomplish. It will be used to showcase the Katy School district support of STEM to local tech and energy companies for expanded STEM related partnerships.

As for the building cost, it is estimated at $4.5 million (no cost for 2 acres of land, it was already owned by KISD). There is an additional $500K available for shared tools and supplies. We hope to move into the building in December 2014. We've gone from building out of a mentor's garage to a small closet in an office to a medium sized rented space. This will allow us to cooperate with all the Katy teams to get FRC to every high school and FLL to every middle school, both of which we are trying and already have made progress to push.

We will keep you posted as the building progresses!

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by Abhishek R

We are an industry funded team (especially being near Houston's energy corridor, lots of oil and gas companies)

The Oil & Gas industry is perhaps the best asset to FIRST teams in Louisiana and Texas. Our team is fortunate enough that my father works for an oil company that will sponsor our team all the way in Louisiana .

[Calvin Hartley]

This is awesome.

When will construction start? Being from Michigan, I have little concept of construction between the months of November and April. (possible exaggeration)

[Akash Rastogi]

Seems like the industrial ties to your community are a very valuable asset. Wish we had more of that in Jersey! All things considered, since we only have 1 high school in our district, I now realize that we are also very lucky for what we get from our district. Must be insane to have that many schools/teams in one place!

Here's what our district provides our 1 high school with for two FRC teams (11 and 193 - MORT Beta) There's more stuff I didn't get a chance to take pictures of.

I sort of wish we had more schools in our area or district to warrant a facility like this. It would definitely be amazing to have, especially the permanent practice field.

Best of luck with this. Hope you use it to help as many teams as you can

[Abhishek R]

Originally Posted by Calvin Hartley

This is awesome.

When will construction start? Being from Michigan, I have little concept of construction between the months of November and April. (possible exaggeration)

Construction is supposed to start in March and be ready in December, hopefully in time for the 2015 season.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Congratulations 624, this is going to be such a huge help to all Katy teams (2882, 4639) and hopefully we will see even more in the area. I can't wait to come by and see the new facility.

[jbsmithtx]

I've been wanting to start something similar in the DFW area for a while now....

This looks great though, and it'll certainly take the competition in Texas to a new level

[cadandcookies]

That is a seriously cool new space (I particularly like the robots in the rendering).

A perfect example what a truly inspiring and dedicated group of people can do.

[yash101]

Wow! That's amazing! I wish I could do the same! Many teams in the district and a couple permanent court would be "Oh Sweet!" or "Aah. Now I have space to breathe in the build room!"

[Tungrus]

...we will move south! had enough of bitter cold and losing workshop in the middle of build season! Below 20 degrees feels chillier than it sounds, especially if you are moving boxes and cold aluminum!

[Mastonevich]

This is so awesome to hear that this is being built in Katy, TX. I hope more communities pony up the money to build facilities like Katy, TX and Lee's Summit, MO.

You are getting one thing the Lee's Summit, MO teams don't have, which is a dedicated space for a full practice field (We do have some options during season).

Congratulations

[Abhishek R]

The STEAM (Art has been added to the original title) Center is progressing well! They will be installing the air ducts this week, so everything is looking good so far. We're not sure yet if it will be done by Kickoff, but it's great to see it coming along.

[sanddrag]

Awesome! Please keep sharing the progress!

[Michael Corsetto]

Ditto! This is incredible and is setting a strong precedence for other districts to follow suit. I'm hoping ours is next

[Abhishek R]

Here is the latest update on the progress of the STEAM Center/Center for Imagination and Innovation.

The first picture shows the outside covering, including the chilled/hot water system (AC/heat) being installed. The second picture is an inside view of one of the 2000 square feet build bays (essentially, the house of one KISD team). You can make out the wide entry door (no more taking bumpers off robots to fit them through the door ) as well as the overall front and back rooms' layouts, and a skylight.

We're excited to see it coming along - the estimated completion date is March 1, 2015, which should be relatively in time to practice for competitions.

EDIT: It seems the 2nd picture was too big for the post. I'll see if I can upload it to CD Media in a bit.