Texas A&M-Galveston Ground-Breaking For New $46 Million Academic Building Set For Thursday
Ground-breaking for a new academic building at Texas A&M University at Galveston that will serve as a “front door” to the campus will be held Thursday, December 10.
Ground-breaking for a new academic building at Texas A&M University at Galveston that will serve as a “front door” to the campus will be held Thursday (Dec. 10), and university officials are confident the $46 million facility will enhance student learning and research.
It will be the first phase of a new academic complex for the campus and include a new visitor center, classrooms and laboratories, academic services areas and administrative offices.
“Texas A&M-Galveston is a unique institution in the A&M System and one of only six maritime academies in the U.S.,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “It is important to the state economy and the nation that the A&M System continues to invest in this campus and its mission of training the next generation of Sea Aggies.”
Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young also cited the progress being made at the Galveston campus.
“Like the flagship campus in College Station, Texas A&M’s branch campus in Galveston is experiencing tremendous growth and development,” said President Young. “This new building will further solidify Texas A&M at Galveston’s reputation as one of the premiere marine-oriented campuses in the nation.”
The new academic building, which will consist of four floors totaling 86,000 square feet, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2017.
“This building will provide critically needed, quality, state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories as well as relocating student services from a warehouse to this new facility,” says Rear Admiral Robert Smith III USN (Ret.), CEO of Texas A&M University at Galveston.
“This will be similar to what Rudder Tower is to the main campus in College Station,” says Donna Lang, vice president for academic operations. “It will be a showcase area for our entrance to campus and provide our students with state-of-the-art classrooms.”
Phase two of the academic complex will include additional lecture rooms and support services, and phase three will complete the project with the addition of a new library.
Serving as Texas A&M’s “Classroom by the Sea,” Texas A&M University at Galveston has a current enrollment of 2,350 and prepares students for marine-oriented careers. It is also home to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, one of six maritime academies in the United States, and provides an opportunity for Sea Aggies to learn how to operate and maintain an ocean-going vessel.
“The Academic Building will be a great addition and will give us an impressive entrance to our campus,” adds Grant Shallenberger, associate vice president for administration and auxiliary services.
“It will be a gathering place for our students and a location where we can welcome visitors to our campus in a first-class manner. It will also serve as a nice recruiting tool for prospective students.”
