NewCampus makes room for increasing student population
with the addition of new buildings
The sounds of jack hammers and pile drivers are reverberating across the campus as new buildings are constructed in the midst of one of the University’s most active growth spurts.
With enrollment at an-all time high, A&M-Corpus Christi’s student population is dictating the need for more classrooms and housing. Concurrently, the University’s commitment to research and the arts is evident in the construction of the Harte Research Institute building and the Performing Arts Center.
Classroom Building
Fall 2004 marked the University’s 10th anniversary as a four-year institution. Since 1994, freshmen enrollment has more than doubled and overall enrollment has risen from approximately 5,000 students to more than 8,000 students.
To meet the demands of this phenomenal growth, a $15 million classroom project is under construction on the east side of the campus. The 60,000 square foot building accommodating 900 students is scheduled to open by Fall 2005. It will be the second largest structure on campus, housing the departments of Communications, Psychology and Social Sciences. Special features include a 250-seat lecture hall, a 100-seat classroom, 19 standard classrooms, 50 faculty offices and 10 seminar rooms. The state-of-the-art facility will also have 20 video and audio editing stations.
New Residence Hall
Responding to the need of more on-campus student housing, the Department of University Housing, in partnership with Camden Miramar, opened a residence hall to accommodate 252 additional students in Fall 2004. The hall features rooms designed for two students, with bathrooms adjoining each room. This provides students more privacy and a more economical housing option.
Performing Arts Center
The 53,000 square foot Performing Arts Center is scheduled to open in Spring 2005 and will promote the artistic diversity of our area, making A&M-Corpus Christi a cultural hub in South Texas.
The 1,500-seat concert hall, which will be the principal venue for the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, will feature 180-degree seating and a technologically advanced sound system. The $15 million concert hall will have a striking 50-foot, glass walled atrium facing Ocean Drive overlooking Corpus Christi Bay and the city’s skyline. Another elegant touch will be the lobby’s bronze sculpture “Danzamar” by artist Kent Ullberg. The sculpture, in the form of a woman outstretched, in a flowing skirt, is inspired by ballet and folklorico dance and by ocean elements. The sculpture was commissioned by the McNutt Charitable Trust to show appreciation for the University’s contribution to the community.
Harte Research Institute (HRI)
In September 2000, Mr. Edward H. Harte donated $46 million to establish a research institute that would focus on the study of the Gulf of Mexico. A strong believer in preserving our natural resources, Harte saw the importance of research, education and conservation of the Gulf. The Harte Research Institute (HRI) building will house the scientists dedicated to that vision.
HRI will be unlike any other building on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus because of its focus as a research facility. The 57,000 square foot building will cost $18 million and consist of six wet labs, two seawater labs, two dry labs and research labs and offices. The facility will also boast an Education Outreach Suite and a large classroom building where people of all ages will learn about the conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. The building, which sits behind the campus entryway sculpture “Momentum,” is scheduled to open in March 2005.
The Future
“The next phase of construction will include an addition to the Early Childhood Development Center focusing on math and science instruction,” said Dr. Paul Orser, interim vice president for administration. “The University is also requesting Tuition Revenue Bonds for three additional projects in this legislative session for a kinesiology, recreation and athletic facility, a College of Business building, and a new utility loop that will provide the additional heating and cooling capacity needed as the campus continues to grow. These proposed projects will total approximately $58 million.” |
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HRI
PAC
Classroom
Residence Hall
Dr. Furgason signs international agreement with Mexican conservation organization at site of new HRI building.
The Danzamar sculpture will grace the entrance to the new Performing Arts Center. The Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust donated $100,000 to the University for the sculpture.
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