Texas A&M breaks ground on Aplin Center

Hundreds gathered Friday on the campus of Texas A&M University to celebrate the groundbreaking of what will become an immersive, hands-on learning hub that will also serve as a campus visitor center. The three-story, more than 211,000-square-foot Aplin Center will transform hospitality, retail and marketing education when it opens in 2028.

“Beaver Aplin changed the way Americans travel with Buc-ee’s, and now he’s changing how the next generation of Aggies will learn,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “The Aplin Center proves Texas A&M is more than a place for education — it’s a hub of innovation where dreamers and doers will shape the future of Texas and our nation. Congratulations to Beaver Aplin, Chancellor Hegar and Texas A&M on this incredible new facility.”

Buc-ee’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80 contributed $60 million toward establishing the Aplin Center. The West Campus site, currently a parking lot, sits in the shadow of Kyle Field and across from the Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center.

“What we’re doing inside the building will be incredible for Texas A&M, for former students, for students and for all our visitors,” said Aplin, who majored in construction science but found success in the hospitality industry through his emphasis on exceeding customer expectations at 54 Buc-ee’s stores in nine states. “The Texas A&M culture and friendships influenced me and my business career in many ways. I’m just giddy about being able to do something to give back. I’ve never seen anything like what we’re creating here.”

The center will house a variety of immersive learning labs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mays Business School, including for fermentation, dairy, meat science, coffee, floral design, enology, as well as sensory, culinary and product development kitchens, and retail.

Another major component will be a restaurant that will allow students to gain hands-on food service and management experiences.

From its status as the nation’s largest facility built from Texas timber to the unique learning opportunities housed within, the center will be a “game changer,” according to Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar ’93.

“The Aplin Center fits right in with the values of Texas A&M. It is all about innovation, collaboration and a commitment to students,” Hegar said. “There is no doubt about it: this facility will be a national model for experiential learning and a proud showcase of Texas-grown timber and Texas-grown talent. The Texas A&M community thanks Beaver Aplin for his vision and his contribution.”

The Aplin Center mass timber project also features glue-laminated columns and beams, as well as cross laminated timber floor and roof panels. All timber used is sourced from Texas sawmills. The project will require more than 3.5 million board feet of timber. The project, designed by DLR Group and Pickard Chilton, is the largest mass timber project on a university campus in Texas.

As part of its hospitality emphasis, the Aplin Center will also house the relocated campus visitor center, which for decades has been in Rudder Tower despite space limitations. It will include a 170-seat theater and 70-seat multipurpose room. Director Kelli Hollinger ’02 said she envisions the move helping the visitor center better fulfill its purpose of inspiring prospective students.

“It’s an incredibly important thing for someone considering a college to form an emotional connection. Mr. Aplin really understands how that’s done. Think about the warm greeting you get from the energetic staff every time you enter a Buc-ee’s,” Hollinger said. “We’re eager to say ‘Howdy’ and show prospective students especially how they can find belonging within the Aggie Family.”

For Aplin, the welcome will start even before someone enters the Aplin Center, which will feature a timber surround and emphasizes innovation, wellness and sustainability in its design approach. As a passionate proponent of the outdoors and nature, Aplin has envisioned an inviting landscape that accentuates and preserves the mature oak trees already on site.

“I want visitors’ jaws to drop when they walk in the front door — actually even before they get to the door,” said Aplin, who will be recognized Friday night with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a former student. “The curb appeal of this center will be incredible, and every step they take toward it will build. When they get inside, we won’t let them down. It’s going to be even better.”

Provost Alan Sams, whose office has been overseeing the center’s development, pointed out that the architects had a sense of welcome in mind when designing the building. “If you look at the footprint, it’s U-shaped. It’s designed literally in the shape of open arms,” he said. “This is Texas A&M welcoming the world. How great is that?”

Aplin originally committed $50 million in 2022 to create the Aplin Center, support hospitality education and name the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He later added another $10 million in 2025 to support retail education and name the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Marketing at Mays Business School. The total $60 million gift was committed through the Texas A&M Foundation.

“The Aplin Center is more than a building. It’s a worthy investment in the future of Texas A&M and our students,” said Robert L. Albritton ’71, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “Texas A&M and the Texas A&M System appreciate Beaver Aplin for his generosity and his commitment to his great alma mater.”