The Future is Bright

The Future is Bright

To facilitate future growth, Tarleton has been working with Pfluger Architects to develop a master plan for the field station. The overall vision is to add to our current infrastructure to allow for more of everything – more research, more capacity, more long-term educational experiences. Two bunkhouses are already on order and will accommodate up to 24 students for extended stays. A lab facility is in the planning stages to enhance research and teaching opportunities. Next on tap will likely be a kitchen/dining hall, followed by two more bunkhouses, a student commons area, and an additional bathhouse with laundry. This initial buildout will be sufficient for up to 48 total students and will open the doors to additional summer and/or mini-mester classes, summer camps of all sorts, weekend field trips for all types of courses (not just our field-oriented classes), faculty/staff retreats, and the list goes on!

Rendering of the proposed kitchen/dining facility for Timberlake Biological Field Station. Image from Pfluger.

Additional Housing

Also included in the master plan is room for future expansion with 4 additional bunkhouses, an expanded dining facility, a third bathhouse, and an additional lab building. This configuration would increase capacity to 96 students.

As the field station grows, other needs have to be addressed – a new water well to meet public water supply specifications, additional power, expanded septic fields, possible addition of a solar array, etc. Stay tuned for updates as we transition from a working cattle ranch to a functioning field station.

Master plan developed for future development at Timberlake Biological Field Station. Image from Pfluger.