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New Buildings on Campus

graphic of the new VA Clinic on Campus
Graphic by Adrian Gutierrez

TTU: New Buildings on Campus

Texas Tech University has been a staple in West Texas and the Lubbock community for decades. Now with the population of the university and town growing, the school must accommodate. The solution? Updating old buildings and adding several new facilities throughout the campus. 

Here are some of the new builds and renovations at Texas Tech University: 

Lot R7 Pedestrian Mall Construction (Student Union Building)

On May 17th, construction started on the parking lot between the Student Union Building and the Administration Building. The renovations are a complete redesign of the former parking lot, turning the area into a pedestrian mall. 

The new renovations will create a pedestrian walkway and scenic outdoor courtyard area with seating. The goal is to provide and help encourage a “pedestrian-friendly campus” here at Texas Tech University. 

The construction will also cause 15th Street (located between Akron and Detroit Avenues) to close for good.  

Student Union Building Bookstore New Ownership 

The Barnes and Noble Bookstore located in the Student Union Building is now under new management. It is now the TTU Campus Store and is ran under the Follett Corporation. 

There was a pop-up bookstore located upstairs on the second floor in the Matador Room. The pop-up store stayed open until June 20th, when the TTU Campus Store opened.

TTU School of Veterinary Medicine (Amarillo, Tx)

The TTU School of Veterinary Medicine is on track to start classes in the fall 2021 semester. It has accepted its first class of students for the 2021 fall semester. The first class will consist of 60 students. 

The TTU School of Veterinary Medicine got the Provisional Accreditation status. The American Veterinary Medical Associations Council of Education gave the status.  

TTU Museum East Wing Addition (Dr. Robert Neff and Louise Willson Arnold Wing)

The Museum of Texas Tech University has plans to add a new East wing, naming it Dr. Robert Neff and Louise Willson Arnold Wing. This new wing will include two stories, a basement with space for storage, some classrooms, offices, and an area for a gallery. 

The new East wing at the museum is dedicated to two people: Dr. Robert Neff and Louise Willson Arnold. Lousie Arnold was the first executive director of the Helen Jones Foundation, serving from 1984 to 2005. Dr. Neff was a member of the foundation’s board.

The Helen Jones Foundation has made several donations over the years to the Texas Tech University system, other educational institutions, and several visual and performing arts companies. In total, the foundation has donated over $72 million. Which included personal gifts from Mrs. Helen DeVitt Jones. The Dr. Robert & Louise Arnold Estate donated a collection of 559 contemporary art pieces to the Texas Tech University Museum in 2017. The new gallery in the East wing will display this collection of art. 

On June 11th, the Texas Tech Museum held a groundbreaking ceremony. TTU Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell, TTU President Lawrence Schovanec were among the guest. Along with Texas Tech foundation members, TTU Board of Regent members. Members of the Arnold family, and the Helen Jones Foundation members all attended as well. The Texas Tech East wing addition has started this month and is estimated to be finished by summer 2023. 

J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre & Dance Complex Phase 2 Renovation

 The J.T. and Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre & Dance Complex is currently under phase 2 renovations. The phase 2 renovation project will include renovations to the current building. The Charles E. Maedgen, Jr. Theatre will also be under construction.

Renovations will include a basement with a prop lab, trap room, orchestra pit, and more. There will be a first floor with a lobby, theatre, green room, restrooms and more. Other things along a second floor with some theatre support areas. 

The new construction will include the first floor with classrooms, fitting rooms, office spaces, and other rooms along a second floor with a new administrative suite for TCVPA and a graduate student office suite. 

TTU National Wind Institute’s 135th West Texas Mesonet Station installed at South Plains Food Bank

Next on the list is the Texas Tech University’s National Wind Institute. Originally installed in May 2021 it is the 135th West Texas Mesonet Station. The Mesonet station was installed in the orchards at the South Plains Food Bank. Its location is in the newly remolded buildings on campus. 

The TTU National Wind Institute partnered with the National Weather Service and Boy Scout Troop 505 to help with fundraising and installation. 

A mesonet station measures 29 different weather parameters. Those include temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, soil temperature and moisture, barometric pressure, etc. All data that the station collects goes to the National Weather Service. 

The new mesonet station in Lubbock will provide data that will help the National Weather Service with more accurate forecasts and operations.

TTU Skyviews Restaurant new renovations (April 2021) 

Texas Tech University’s Skyview Restaurant underwent recent renovations in April 2021. This included a new buffet line, furniture, kitchen expansion, and a new logo, and more onto the remolded building on campus. 

The changes are possible due to a generous $585,000 gift from the Moody Foundation. This donation is the largest one the Moody Foundation has given to Texas Tech. 

The Skyview Restaurant is located on the 6th floor of the Texas Tech Plaza and is ran by Texas Tech students. The restaurant is closed for the summer and will reopen for the fall 2021 semester. 

Other Notable Potential Projects 

These are some potential buildings projects on the TTU campus that are still being planned:  

The Academic Sciences Building project is currently undergoing stage 2 design. The building will be three stories, with research and teaching lab spaces for these departments: GeoSciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychological Sciences. 

The Texas Tech football training facility is also undergoing stage 2 designs for renovations. 

The National Ranch Heritage Center (NRHC) is currently at stage 1 design in the planning process.

The RIP Griffin Park is under stage 2 design for expansion and renovations.

Campus Maintanence/ADA/Life Safety

Construction Projects | Transportation & Parking Services | TTU 

Under Construction – Projects 

For more Texas Tech articles click here!

Story by Allison White

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