The largest construction project in the history of the University of Texas at San Antonio is underway. The expansion is part of UTSA’s plan to become a Tier One research university and gain national prominence.
UTSA is calling this building project a “game changer.” The Science and Engineering Building will house four areas: chemistry, biology, chemical engineering and the Brain Health Initiative. Scientists in that group are working on neurological problems like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and epilepsy.
"The College of Sciences is responsible for over half the research grants at UTSA," commented Dean of Sciences George Perry, Ph.D.
The $95 million project was paid for with funds from tuition revenue bonds, UTSA and the UT System.
"We’ve been anticipating this building for seven or eight years," Perry said. "It’s a wonderful day."
Interim Vice President for research Bernard Arulanandam, Ph.D.,remarked that the state-of-the-art labs and classrooms will help recruit highly qualified professors and researchers.
"The added space allows us to attract more talent, highly-prolific faculty. And also allows for students to participate in high end research," he said.
The four story, 150-thousand square foot new building will open in 2020.