UT-Austin Breaks Ground on 17-Story Business School

The University of Texas at Austin recently broke ground on a new, 17-story facility that will serve as the new home for the school’s McCombs School of Business, according to university news. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 10 for Mulva Hall, which will include amenities like classrooms, academic department suites, research centers, faculty offices, the dean’s office, and gathering spaces. The building is scheduled to open to students in fall 2028.

According to university news, the 373,000-square-foot facility will cost about $425 million. It will feature 29 classrooms; a collaborative learning auditorium that seats 200; three specialty education labs; and a central office tower housing the dean’s suite, administrative space, and faculty offices. The university partnered with Perkins&Will for the project’s design.

Rendering courtesy of Perkins&Will

“This is not just the start of a construction project but a new chapter in the history of the McCombs School of Business,” said Vandana Nayak, managing director of Perkins&Will’s Dallas Studio. “Perkins&Will’s design will transform the experience of students who come to McCombs, with a goal of shaping the world of business. We hope Mulva Hall becomes a landmark not just on the campus but in the lives it will touch.”

Funding comes from a combination of $50 from the McCombs reserves, $150 million from McCombs donors, and $225 million financed by the university, according to university news.

“In this strategic location, Mulva Hall will both amplify McCombs’ robust spirit of community and invite collaboration with Austin’s booming business ecosystem,” said McCombs Dean Lillian Mills. “By creating this ‘business neighborhood’ at UT, we’re deepening our connections with each other, opening our offerings to the greater Austin business community, and exponentially increasing our ability to create and share the knowledge that will change the world.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

Digital Edition