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

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.