Texas Tech University Celebrates Opening of New Academic Building

Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new, 130,000-square-foot Academic Sciences Building (ASB), according to a news release. The facility stands three stories and broke ground about two and a half years ago. It plays home to five academic departments in the College of Arts & Sciences: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Geosciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychological Sciences.

It will also house four core interdisciplinary research labs (human sampling, a clean room, biosafety level 2, and biosafety level 3), as well as academic classrooms, general laboratory and research space, faculty offices, and public gathering spaces, the news release reports. The building’s courtyard includes an IGOR telescope from White Sands Missile Range.

“The Academic Sciences Building is a testament to Texas Tech’s vision for the future while honoring the traditional beauty of our campus,” said Lawrence Schovanec, Texas Tech President. “As the first building to open in our university’s second century, it embodies our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research and exceptional student experiences.”

The project cost $112.5 million, $12.5 million of which came from an appropriation from the Texas Legislature during its 2021 session.

“This space will allow not only existing students to thrive and reach new heights but will have significant impact on our ability to attract future students and additional outstanding faculty,” said Tosha Dupras, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “I look forward to two weeks from now, when the hallways, classrooms and labs will be filled with students and faculty.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

Digital Edition