UTA to face city's center
03/17/2002
By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News
The dead zone between downtown Arlington and the University of Texas at Arlington campus will get another chance at life in the next few years, university and city officials say.
The president of UTA said the university will reorient its campus so that it faces downtown, a move he said would hopefully bring life back to an area long ignored by students, businesses and pedestrians alike.
In so doing, the changes will help reverse decades of the university's semi-isolation from a mostly dormant downtown, Dr. Robert Witt said.
For years, the university grew alongside of, but mostly independent from, the goings-on in nearby City Hall, said Dr. Witt, who assumed leadership of the university in 1995.
"I think historically, the university has not done a very good job opening itself up to the community," he said. "Clearly the best interest of the university and of the city require us to be more closely aligned."
Between the campus and City Hall, he points out, are several blocks of uninviting real estate. Those few blocks serve as a barrier between the city and one of its leading institutions, he said.
In the next few years, however, Dr. Witt said UTA will begin building a number of buildings on the side of campus facing downtown, with the express intent of refueling downtown development as well as creating an entrance to the campus that embraces its neighbor.
"We are very excited," Mayor Elzie Odom said. "UTA has become a real partner in downtown redevelopment."
Dr. Witt said the university's residential community – including about 3,500 students – is inwardly directed and provides little in the way of vibrancy to the downtown streets.
On the other hand, the poor quality of the real estate in the few blocks dividing the center of the campus and City Hall does little to encourage students or faculty to stray off campus, he said.
Dr. Witt said he hopes a series of building projects – and the increase in enrollment to about 40,000 by 2015 or 2020 – will change that.
Among the buildings already built or in planning stages are two apartment complexes for 500 students, Arlington Hall, a $29 million science building and a fine arts complex. These are the vanguard of a major expansion between now and 2020, according to the university's master plan. A new main library and new homes for several of UTA's major academic departments are also envisioned.
'Vital link'
Council member Pat Remington said the willingness of the university to play a larger role in the life of downtown Arlington is essential to reversing the area's decline seen in the last few decades.
"UTA is a vital link to our downtown, and it is a major player in the redevelopment of our downtown area," Mr. Remington said. "By changing the face of UTA to make it look toward downtown, the university is taking a significant part in improving the area."
Mr. Remington said the city has been slow to recognize just how important a partner the university can be in directing the future of Arlington.
"It just takes time, I guess, for people in the city to understand the relationship between a major university and a city," he said. "They are a major player in [Arlington]. We both have come to the realization that the time for existing alone without much help from the other is over."
Mr. Odom said that the links between the city and the university had frayed to the point where stronger bonds were needed.
"There was a period of time when it didn't much appear that UTA was a part of Arlington," he said. "It was there and doing fine, but it just wasn't linked to the city.
"I don't want to blame anybody. I don't know why it was like that, but it was. ... That has changed, and it is very much a vibrant part of the city now."
Arlington Chamber of Commerce president Wes Jurey said UTA's closer involvement in the community is of enormous worth to the city.
Obvious examples of its impact, he said, include the boost its research provides the economy, the number of employees it retains and the role it plays in educating residents.
Increased involvement
Dr. Witt has taken those traditional contributions and ramped up the university's involvement, Mr. Jurey said. Dr. Witt will be the first UTA chief to serve on the chamber's board, for instance, and will be board chairman beginning later this year.
But Mr. Remington and Mr. Jurey both said the advantage UTA brings to downtown just by its physical presence has been vastly underutilized in the past. The new city-oriented focus inherent in its expansion plans will be the key to changing that, they said.
Dr. Witt said he sees things both ways. From the university's point of view, the more life it can bring to the neighborhood between downtown and the campus, the more pleasant experiences he can offer faculty and students.
"Great universities have a vibrant infrastructure around their campuses that often aren't involved with the university at all," he said.
From UT in Austin to Ohio State in Columbus to Indiana University in Bloomington, those campuses are surrounded by student- and faculty-friendly shops, restaurants, service providers and entertainment venues.
The number of walk-in businesses operating around UTA is limited, Dr. Witt said.
To improve that, he plans to put more students and faculty in buildings in the no-man's land between the campus's center and downtown.
Mr. Jurey said business and city leaders alike hope that additional pedestrian traffic will ignite a chain reaction, one that will lift property values in the area and attract the kinds of businesses that will help reverse downtown's decline.
Campus appeal
"And as for us," Dr. Witt said, "this will give us a better environment to offer prospective students."
And those students, he noted, are more numerous than most outside observers give the school credit for.
The new apartment buildings will bring the number of students on campus to more than 4,000. That's a higher percentage of UTA's total enrollment of 21,000 than the number of students living on campus at UT-Austin, he said.
How far away is the campus from downtown? Universities can be a big help with downtown activity. UT in Austin has over 13,000 students living on the campus just North of downtown. If they could grab some attention of the students they could hit it big and make downtown much more alive.
As most of you know, I am currently studying urban planning at UTA, and therefore, I know the area fairly well.
Recently, we had representatives from Downtown Arlington, Inc. come to one of my classes to discuss their objectives. They told us that technically UTA is considered a downtown campus. UTA is only a couple of blocks from main street and the "downtown" area of Arlington. The problem is that there really isn't much to downtown Arlington. In a DFW area survey that we did, we found out that most people didn't even know that arlington had a downtown, much less tell you where it is! So, UTA may be a "downtown" campus, but there is currently no reason for people to even go downtown.
The people at Downtown Arlington, Inc. invisioned a vibrant 24-hour downtown area with lofts, retail, restaurants, etc., etc., much like Dallas and Fort Worth are attempting to do. Personally, I don't see how this could possibly happen or why anyone would want to move to downtown Arlington even if there were lofts. You could argue that students might want to live there, but most UTA students would not be able to afford expensive luxury lofts.
I don't know, what do others think?
This would never work! I think cities like Arlington want to believe they are bigger than they actually are. They have the population base- but Arlington is still considered a suburb and a family community. I work close to downtown Arlington- and I could never see this happening. You're right- who would want to live in Downtown Arlington besides a few UTA students. Heck- Arlington can't even get the land developed around the Ballpark. Now- if Arlington was say Lubbock- then you might have a chance because something like this would definitely be unique to the Lubbock area (an attraction of sort). However, if you want a downtown lifestyle- people are going to go to Dallas or Fort Worth instead of Arlington.
hehe, i hate to disappoint you kelleyusa, but you could not be more wrong about lubbock. even if it was unique, it just wouldn't fly. i'm in lubbock and have been for the last six years (god willing i'll be out of here in december), so i feel i am qualified to say this.
and i think everyone underestimates the potential of downtown arlington. if the powers that be got off their asses and got smart, they would establish a light rail link with dallas and fort worth right through downtown. then you could get some serious transit oriented development going. with the right program and the right price, they could really get something special happening in arlington. hell, if they did it right, i'd live in downtown arlington.
Oh yes- I too spent 5 good years in Lubbock- so I know the land well. I think something in terms of loft apartments with retail would go over way better in Lubbock- at least Lubbock has some sense of a downtown- not to mention they already have loft apartments in Downtown Lubbock that have leased very well. In fact- they have a few more conversions planned (according to the AJ)!! If given a reason to go Downtown- people in Lubbock would definitely go- but there's not much there right now! Lubbock needs a destination spot- and the Tinseltown on 82nd Street just isn't cutting it! Now- Arlington for example- you'll never get residents to go downtown the way the city envisions. If people want to go downtown- they'll take the 20 minute drive to Dallas or Fort Worth (a real downtown). And remember- Arlington has no mass transit- there is the Trinity Railway Express which runs through Centerport- but that's about as close as you'll see anything to Arlington for the next 20 years! I guess we'll agree to disagree.
I tend to agree that Arlington's Downtown will not develop any time soon. I am a two time UTA grad ('80 & '83) and I do feel that there needs to be more of a connection between UTA and Downtown Arlington. If a mass transit line and stop were built through Downtown Arlington, then there would be an opportunity for redevelopment. Until that happens, I just don't see it.
I also agree that downtown Arlington has got to tap into the regional transit system and locate a nice fairly cheap modern-type streetcar down main street (similar to the new Portland Streetcar - not MAX) or a straight-up light-rail line which obviously costs a little more. Connect it to the TRE (of course) and the entertainment district or something along those lines also.
Downtown Arlington with a more visible UTA anchor could be a nice comfortable and attractive place if something more bold like that were included. With all the mediocre baby steps DA, Inc. has made in the past - the city, the uni, and the Inc. should really wake up and see what transit-oriented developments have already proven themselves around our own metroplex and adapt the ideas for their home territory.
I have lived in arlington my entire life until a couple of months ago. A regional transit system would be awesome running through the central part of arlington (downtown) as well as near the ballpark/convention center area.
Historically, the reason arlington has always resisted the mass transit system (TRE or DART) is inherent in the proposal itself....the logistics....arlington citizens have repeatedly been asked to pay lots of tax dollars for one rail station....maybe two. Having said that, i feel that the majority would be glad to pay the $$ if it were more beneficial to the community as a whole. Either way you look at it, there is definitely a need for a connection to DART and TRE. Personally, I'd like to see a consolidation of all the regional systems so that the sporatic developments do not continue as they are now. One day, the region will be kicking itself in the butt for not having done so (my opinion only of course)
I do agree on one thing, downtown arlington will not achieve the vibrant 24 hour status it envisions like Dallas and Ft Worth. But many people in the arlington hate going to those areas (the big cities)...believe me. It can, however, build a vibrant centralized environment with retail shops, restaurants, bars, etc all in one local area. As crowded as arlington is getting, a revitalized central arlinton will be extremely benficial to the city. Anyone else have ideas or opinions?? This is just one man's brain dump!!
Garrett, I agree with you that we will be kicking ourselves one day if we do not form a regional transit authority. I feel that The T and DART should merge and hopefully bring in several of the cities that sit between Dallas and Fort Worth.
Chemistry & Physics Building
The other side of the building is less 'exciting' as these sw views:
http://www.uta.edu
[Click for larger --v].
<img src='http://cos.uta.edu/Science_Bldg/SOUTHWEST1.jpg' width='700px' style='border: 1px solid #000000;'>
[Click for larger --v].
<img src='http://cos.uta.edu/Science_Bldg/SOUTHWEST2.jpg' width='700px' style='border: 1px solid #000000;'>
For other stuff, visit here:
http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2003/BO...nApprovals.pdf
Contains the info above, plus master plan of UTA campus. Includes the 'housing aspect' of UT-Southwestern Medical Ctr. in Dallas.
Also, great plans in Galveston, Houston.
Posted because there are threads for UTD, UNT, TCU, etc. - so why not UTA! Res. construction for the campus has already been posted elsewhere.
General 1998 view of UTA (from http://www.uta.edu):
<img src='http://www.uta.edu/masterplan/images/aerial1998big.jpg' style='border: 1px solid #000000;'>
(UTA went through a building boom between 1972-1992.)
Proposed engineering building and new campus green - at engineering plaza and 2nd St. concourse terrace.
Second picture is the 1999-2020 Master Plan overview.
http://www.uta.edu
<img src='http://www.uta.edu/masterplan/images/bigarp.jpg' style='border: 1px solid #000000;'>
[Click for larger --v].
<img src='http://www.uta.edu/masterplan/images/newby2020.jpg' width='700px' style='border: 1px solid #000000;'>
Introduction to master plan:
http://www.uta.edu/masterplan/html/i...asterplan.html
Last edited by drumguy8800; 23 May 2005 at 04:59 PM.
Ugh, bad design. Like graduate - no, high school drafting - bad. I hate the look today of public buildings. It'll be out of style and ugly in...well, it already is.
And talk about a cluttered mess. That campus is more and more mazelike.
I don't think the building looks too bad. I mean I guess it could be better. But overall it is an attractive building I think. I think UTA has so much potential. I think the most important thing for their future is the development of a community feel, through inhance school pride. I think this is lacking mainly because students just see their school as a means to an end instead of a destination or experience.
I don't know much about the current residential component of the school but it seems to me that they could shed a lot of the commuter school feel with increased campus housing and requiring all freshman and sophmores to live on campus their first two years.
Most freshman hate the thought of dorm life, much like I did, but looking back on the experience it was great. That's where you meet friends and create community.
I think if they can get their atheletics program going again. Mainly football, it would help school spirit a lot as well. Whether or not you like football or sports for that matter it does a lot as far as unifying the campus and alumni, and thus encourages alumni donations. Just my thoughts...
INDEED!Originally posted by drycreek
I think if they can get their atheletics program going again. Mainly football, it would help school spirit a lot as well. Whether or not you like football or sports for that matter it does a lot as far as unifying the campus and alumni, and thus encourages alumni donations. Just my thoughts...
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Or create the "Hip Hop Project", in which my brother took a picture once every two hours on a weekday of his lazy room mate, who only moves once, and that is for dinner and t.v. Me? I got a waiver, but for a good reason. Imagine having me, a fact-filled, physically sensitive, unwakable, and somewhat obsessive-compulsive freak, as a room mate.Originally posted by drycreek
Most freshman hate the thought of dorm life, much like I did, but looking back on the experience it was great. That's where you meet friends and create community.
Hah.
have you ever read the shorthorn? its not like it hasn't been said before. if you can come up with a way to get it done, be my guest. They are like the Dallas city council with a can't do attitude.
I had a lot of fun on campus. It got old after two years, though.
Last edited by Columbus Civil; 22 January 2004 at 08:12 AM.
Me too!
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
northside close knit
Cain Hall...
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Garret were you an athlete, or did you win the lottery?Originally posted by GCarey
Cain Hall...
If you want to talk about getting old try eating at Duncan for 4 years.
yeah, i played football there for two years.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
UTA one of state's fastest growing colleges
David Giddens and Daniel C. Bartel - Staff Writers
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas...wscolumn4.html
It's true the University of Texas at Arlington has had no college football glory to boast about for the past 20 years. The school's football program was canceled in the mid-1980s. However, the school is considering expanding its athletic department. Students voted last April to raise athletic fees by $2 per semester hour to add women's soccer, golf and reinstate football. But even without a gridiron to lure new students, the campus has managed sustained growth -- enough growth to secure bragging rights.
UTA has increased its overall size by 35% in the last six years, said John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations. That makes UTA one of fastest growing four-year colleges in the state, he said. Hall shared insight on UTA's progress at a recent Fort Worth Commercial Real Estate Women's lunch. Once considered a commuter school, the campus has made great strides to create more residence halls. Roughly 4,300, or 17%, of the university's 25,000 students live on campus. There are plans to add about 370 more apartment units to the campus inventory, Hall said.
As part of the university's long-range masterplan, UTA is expected to build 23 new buildings from 2000 to 2020, adding about 2.5 million square feet to the existing 4.2 million square feet, Hall said. New buildings would include campus housing, academic buildings, performance halls, parking structures and a sports arena. This past August, UTA completed work on the 421-bed Kalpana Chawla Hall, totaling 134,000 square feet. Construction and design costs were around $19 million. Why such growth? A portion of it involved the economic downturn of late, which led to a resurgence in people returning to school. Also, the numbers of graduating seniors in the state has grown. Most importantly, "there's been a renewed focus to recruit and retain students," Hall said.
More UTA buzz
A company with the Arlington Technology Incubator, Dcipher, has acquired debt financing to develop products for the marketplace, according to a UTA news release. The company creates encryption technologies for computer software and hardware. Out of 12 companies with the incubator, Dcipher is the first to seek financing to produce and market their products, said Dr. Geoff Grant, director of the incubator.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Possible new UTA arena down the line?
New arena evaluated
Some say the addition of a multipurpose facility could give the university a more traditional atmosphere.
By Robert Kleeman
The Shorthorn Staff
President James Spaniolo said he expects to have a report regarding a multipurpose building toward the beginning of the spring semester.
The proposed facility would house sporting events, convocations, graduations, major speakers and other special events.
Spaniolo said the report would be based on a study of the feasibility of an all-event center.
“The question is whether we can come up with an affordable plan in a reasonable amount of time,” he said. “We wouldn’t be looking at this if we didn’t think it was necessary.”
He said he would prefer an on-campus facility. The building would only be off-campus if there was no other way to put together a funding package, he said.
Student Congress President Casey Townsend said the university would probably look at outside funding sources before asking students for more tuition or fee increases.
Townsend said that though plans to build the facility are not definite and no time line has been given, he expects Spaniolo to approve the measure.
“I believe President Spaniolo will do everything in his power to make sure there is a new arena on campus,” he said. “With this facility, we’d be able to attract big name college basketball teams like the University of Kentucky. Having bigger sports programs come to play here would turn us toward being more traditional.”
The possibility of attracting prestigious speakers would give the university greater visibility, Townsend said. Texas Hall is not big enough to hold some events that are staples of four-year universities, such as graduations, he said.
Undeclared freshman Simukayi Mutasa said Texas Hall is a sufficient venue to enjoy basketball games. Constructing a multipurpose building would not create enough excitement to fill up the seats, he said.
Marketing senior Shammah Chapinduka said she welcomes the idea of a new facility, especially for basketball.
“I’ve never had school pride because when I want to support my school teams there’s no adequate facility,” she said. “Texas Hall is a horrible place to play basketball — the worst ever. It’s like they’re performing because they’re on a stage, and it makes other teams look down on us.”
For a university, the event facilities could use a lot of upgrading, and having a better place for basketball games would attract even more quality players, she said.
Spaniolo said he hopes the possibility of a new multipurpose facility will not affect school spirit.
“I hope students will fill Texas Hall and support our excellent men’s and women’s basketball teams regardless of where they’re playing,” he said.
^ Good news. I'd like to see more studies/announcements like this come from UTA.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
they've been a big school for a long time. Why do they want to play grown up all of a sudden?
^ Remember, they got a new President or Chancellor about a year ago or so. Apparently, he does not play around.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Maybe they will get a good football program, and play home games in the Cotton Bowl.
Expansion of the Central Library Mall:
http://www.theshorthorn.com/archive/...021105-03.html
Nice
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
Photo in February '05 from another article:
-----
Construction
Chemistry and Physics Building halfway complete
Johnson says that the construction should meet its December deadline.
By Jordan Taylor
The Shorthorn Staff
http://www.theshorthorn.com/archive/...050305-04.html
Exterior construction of the Chemistry and Physics Building is almost complete, and most of the summer will be dedicated to interior work, Physical Plant Director Jeff Johnson said.
The bulk of the summer workload will consist of interior tasks, including flooring and painting, and exterior landscaping and paving, he said.
After 16 months of construction, the building’s outer facade and roof are complete, but various parts of the building lack windows, Johnson said.
He said the building still lacks an atrium window, which is part of the new planetarium, and other custom-made windows are yet to be installed. He said design issues have delayed the atrium window’s installation.
“Once those [windows] are put in, the building will be completely enclosed,” he said.
Wesley D. Weaver, Manhattan Construction Company project manager, said that because the building lacks some windows, temporary walls have been built in the planetarium branch so that the crew may test the air conditioning system throughout the rest of the building.
Johnson said that with 60-65 percent of construction finished, work is on schedule for its December deadline and within its $43 million budget. He said he is pleased with the overall construction at this point.
“We now have permanent power and running water to the building now,” he said.
He said the bridge connecting the new building to the Chemistry Research Building has been constructed, but plate glass windows prevent students from using the structure. He said the crew will wait until construction is closer to completion in November before installing doors to the bridge so that students will not accidentally walk across.
In the beginning of construction, workers faced rain setbacks, leading to an accelerated schedule for the facility’s concrete frame that gave construction extra days of leeway in case of future inclement weather.
Weaver said that, unlike the constant rain at the beginning of construction, the lack of it this year has helped keep construction moving forward.
“Once we got past the rain from last year, everything else has been running smoothly,” he said. “It also helped not to have a hard cold winter [this year].”
Johnson also said he is grateful that there have not been any major injuries to construction workers thus far. He said a luncheon was recently held that showed campus appreciation for the workers’ cooperation with the university and cleanliness of the site.
“Manhattan is a great contractor, and they have staffed the construction well,” he said.
Has anybody heard anything about UTA becoming and A&M facility?
Heard they aren't happy about the preference UTD and UTSW are getting when it comes to funding and have considering going on their own.
^There is a very real battle going on between them on which one will make it to tier one status first. I think UTD is in the lead and appears to have more momentum than UTA. Personally I think a little competition between them will hep the region overall.
AUGUST 26, 2005
Construction to end on time
The Chemistry and Physics Building is planned to be finished by November
By Kim McQuire
Contributor to The Shorthorn
http://www.theshorthorn.com/archive/...082605-03.html
Students and faculty can soon use the new $44 million Chemistry and Physics Building as construction winds down by November.
The building’s most prominent feature is the new planetarium that uses Digistar 3, a sophisticated projection system that draws star maps and gives full-motion video presentations.
The planetarium, with a seating capacity of 200, may be used for astronomy lectures and shows available to elementary and middle school students from the Metroplex, said James L. Horwitz, physics chair and professor.
“This will arguably be the best planetarium in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and, because of the fact that Arlington is centrally located, we anticipate that there will be a large number of visitors to the new planetarium,” he said...
More at link...
AUGUST 22, 2005
Engineering
Funding request left unaddressed
$76 million request left unaddressed; engineering buildings may have to wait.
By Tracie Morales
The Shorthorn assistant news editor
http://www.theshorthorn.com/archive/...082205-06.html
Aerospace engineering senior Averyl Pinto expressed her frustration as the second special session of the Texas Legislature ended without approving funding for a new engineering building and renovations for three others.
“How is the department supposed to move ahead and sell itself?” she asked. “How will it recruit students?”
The session ended Friday without an agreement being reached on the public school finance issue, the main contingent for legislators to begin reviewing a $76 million funding request by the university.
The tuition revenue bonds issue failed to pass in the regular session and was reopened and passed in the House in the first special session but hit a roadblock because of school finance.
Kate Kettles, UTA governmental relations director, said Gov. Rick Perry can call another special session to restructure the school finance system but, according to the Associated Press, House Speaker Tom Craddick said the Legislature should wait until the Texas Supreme Court’s ruling before meeting again.
Engineering Dean Bill Carroll said any funding requests for construction and renovations would have to wait until 2007 and that another option was to seek other sources of funding. He added that the bonds were imperative for the construction of a building that needs to meet the current shortages in space.
“We will have to slow down our growth and slow down research programs,” he said.
Pinto said it was sad to look at ill-equipped buildings like Woolf Hall and see the lack of work labs and classroom space for mechanical and aerospace engineering students.
“Most people will probably opt to go to a university that will offer more labs and research,” she said.
Center of attention
Initial plans show off special events building while other projects near completion
http://www.uta.edu/publications/utam...ies.php?id=210
President James D. Spaniolo announced preliminary plans in April for a $38 million special events center to host athletic contests, commencements, convocations and a variety of other University and community events.
The 208,000-square-foot center would include 6,500 fixed seats with space for an additional 700 courtside seats. Features include practice courts, administrative offices, a hospitality room, suites, academic space, computer labs, lounges and a heritage center. Once construction began, the project would be expected to take 30 months to complete.
The tentative location is the parking area at the corner of Cooper and Mitchell streets. If the center is built there, additional parking lots or a parking garage will replace the spaces lost, as well as provide parking for events.
“I want to emphasize that these are not final decisions,” Spaniolo said in making the announcement at a forum in the E.H. Hereford University Center. “They are preliminary results of some serious and intensive work during the last few months. We will refine these plans based on continued analysis and input.”
In April, students overwhelmingly approved a 6-per-semester-credit-hour fee, $2 of which would fund a portion of the center’s annual operating costs.
“Students are excited about the programs and events that a new special events center will attract,” said 2004-05 Student Congress President Casey Townsend, who led efforts to place the student life initiative referendum on the ballot. “I’m happy to see that students are interested in improving our university.”
The other $4 of the proposed fee increase would fund phase one of Activities Building expansion and renovation. The project would add approximately 52,000 square feet to the existing facility for a fitness center, indoor jogging track, student lounge and retail space. It would also renovate the locker rooms and other interior spaces such as the gymnasiums to let more natural light into the building.
The fees must be approved by the UT System Board of Regents and would not be levied until both projects are finished.
Meanwhile, progress continues on other construction fronts.
The Chemistry and Physics Building is on track for a December completion date. The 123,000-square-foot, three-story structure will house instructional and research labs as well as a 200-seat planetarium already being hailed as one of the most sophisticated in the country.
Undergraduate lab sections should be offered there in spring 2006, said John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations, although “it may take a little longer to get the research labs moved depending on where faculty members are in their research.”
Department of Chemistry Interim Chairman Ed Bellion says the wait will be worth it. “We will have state-of-the-art research labs for the faculty still located in antiquated labs in Science Hall,” he said. “It will help tremendously in attracting students and faculty to our department. We have already signed up three terrific new assistant professors to start in the fall, and I’m sure this new building was a major factor in attracting them here.”
The labs in Science Hall will likely be converted to office or classroom space. “A programming team will be called in to see how that building can best be renovated,” Hall said.
Elsewhere, phase two of the Meadow Run Apartments will open in the fall as 96 units have been added at Summit Street and Greek Row Drive.
The Office of Information Technology has moved to a building in east Fort Worth near the UTA/Fort Worth Center. Called the UTA Computing Center, the building houses OIT, the University Data Center and the MyMav group, which is overseeing the implementation of a new student information computer system. A portion of OIT’s former space in the Davis Hall basement will become a faculty lounge during the 2005-06 academic year.
Workers installed a campus master clock system with more than 275 clocks in 30 campus buildings during the spring semester. A remote storage facility for the Central Library, under construction on Davis Drive near the new Studio Arts Center, will be completed in October.
University Hall will undergo a major safety upgrade this summer with the installation of a fire suppression system, along with energy-efficient lighting, ceilings and other interior finishes, including paint and flooring.
But it’s the special events center that has the campus buzzing.
“I believe this much-needed facility will be a great source of pride and school spirit for UTA,” Athletics Director Pete Carlon said. “A facility like this on our campus can be a focal point of community activity and a fabulous marketing mechanism for our institution.”
Images by HKS of proposed arena:
UT-Arlington to reveal its new brand on Feb. 15
By PATRICK McGEE - STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/13810769.htm
ARLINGTON - So what is a Maverick?
The University of Texas at Arlington community will find out Feb. 15, when the university launches its new brand to better market itself. Since December, the Web site www.whatisamaverick.com has featured speculative chatter about what it means to be a part of UT-Arlington. The university-sponsored site is full of school spirit and campus photos.
The site has drawn nearly 9,000 hits, with traffic boosted by signs and T-shirts referring people to the link. There's also a what-is-a-Maverick billboard on Interstate 30 between Collins and Cooper streets in Arlington, said Lynn Handley, UT-Arlington's vice president of communications. The university's athletic teams will still be called the Mavericks. Student leaders have been looking at a possible makeover of the mascot's costume but have not presented anything to administrators, Handley said.
University spokesman Bob Wright said the idea for the Web site came from the branding committee of faculty, students, staff, alumni and community members. The unveiling will be at noon Feb. 15 in the University Center's Bluebonnet Ballroom. "We want as many people on campus, alumni off campus and just interested people from anywhere to be able to be there," Wright said. A new marketing and advertising campaign will begin in March.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
There has been alot of talk about this on the UTA Athletic message board. I'll post the site, if anyone is interested.
www.utamavericks.com/forum
Thanks for the link.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
The area around UT Arlington is indeed a dead zone, with only a handful of fast food restaurants and crappy looking businesses. It would be great if both the university and the city would make the area more student and worker friendly by attracting Panera Bread, Starbucks, Chipotle or Freebirds, Pot Belly, Barnes and Noble, and some music store. There is really nothing there to support campus life or anchor a renewed interest in developing this area.
I totally agree. It is rather sad, especially given the size of the school.Originally Posted by hookbilledkite
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
What they really need is a Walmart! :angel: LOL
Have you seen the shuttles that run down to the Parks areas on the weekends? Car-less resident students have a tough time getting staples in the campus area. The City did a downtown master plan a while back, hopefully they can get something going there.
"Ultimately, helmet laws save a few brains but destroy many hearts."
- T.J. DeMarco
I wish my campus was starting to look good. It's looking more and more community college like down here.
The area around SHSU is okay, much better than UT Arlington. SHSU's surroundings are never going to expand since that school becomes a ghost town on the weekends, with all the students going home to Houston and other surrounding areas.
By the way, is Kaldi's still open? I bet that place was going to go under when Starbucks came to town.
The problem with the area around the U is the city, which is one of many reasons I have a huge dislike for Arlington. They are more interested in expanding and grabbing huge projects with name recognition but little else, rather than focus on what it has and making it better. I hate to say it, because I love my alma mater, but that area won't be anything great until the city is built out and has to redevelop.
Actually Kaldi's is doing pretty well, in spite of Starbucks opening over at 45 and 11th. Unfortunately, they replaced the Java City stand in Southpaw with a Starbucks stand, but Kaldi's still has the upper hand because they're still open to eleven every night. I practically have a second home there. Not the best coffee in the world but you can't beat the location.
UT-Arlington is the star of new branding campaign
Leader hopes initiative will better define college, attract interest
09:30 PM CST on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
By TOYA LYNN STEWART / The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/bi/gold_print.cgi
The University of Texas at Arlington has a new story to tell, and it started Wednesday at a party to launch its brand marketing initiative. "When we tell the story of UT-Arlington, people are often surprised to learn what happens here every day ... things you and I already know," UTA President Jim Spaniolo said during the celebration. "Our nationally recognized research, for example. Or how impressive our students and alumni are. Or the strength and diversity of our academic programs.
"They say they didn't know. Well, it's time they did know," Mr. Spaniolo told the cheering crowd. "And we're going to tell them." No longer, he said, will UT-Arlington be the area's best-kept secret. "This afternoon I'm pledging that we'll never say that again," Mr. Spaniolo said. The new branding campaign became official Wednesday with the unveiling of a new UTA logo – a capital letter "A" colored blue and outlined in orange. Inside the "A" is a five-point blue-and-white star. Underneath the star are the words "The University of Texas Arlington." The image is already on UTA's Web site and will be added to university products soon, officials said. It replaces the familiar UTA symbol – which also included a star in the letter "A" – that has been used since 1994.
The first phase of UTA's brand initiative consists of ads and billboards to target incoming and undergraduate students. UTA isn't the first university to catch the branding fever. It has become more common as universities compete to make their mark both on campus and off. The idea is to promote a university's image as a way to attract students, top-notch educators and outside funding. It's the same method that companies have used for years – creating an identity to sell a product, concept or story.
"It helps us better focus our message and tell people about the university," Mr. Spaniolo said. "It's distinctive and emphasizes who we are. "Everyone on campus knows what UTA is, but we're not sure if off campus everyone knows what UTA is." The school has spent about $354,951 since October 2004 on brand development, media planning, logo research, commercials, invitations, food, print ads, T-shirts, alumni mailers and other items. Eric Nedderman from the Class of 1983 brought his 3-year-old son, Matthew, to the party. Mr. Nedderman of Frisco said the initiative will enhance the image of the university. Mr. Nedderman is the son of past university President Wendell Nedderman.
UTA spokesman Bob Wright said organizers expected a few hundred attendees at Wednesday's launch. But the event was delayed about 15 minutes as more than 2,000 people lined up to get inside the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the University Center. Students, including junior Chris Maloy, 20, said they were there out of curiosity as well as for the free food and a chance to win prizes that included iPods and a 52-inch television. "It's really been hyped up," sophomore Grace Martin, 19, said outside the ballroom. "I came because I really wanted to see what the new brand launch was going to be."
UTA at a glance
It was founded in 1895 as Arlington College.
It features a 400-acre main campus in Arlington and a 20-acre campus in Fort Worth.
25,352 students from 150 nations were enrolled in fall 2005.
The school has more than 164,000 alumni.
81 baccalaureate degrees, 73 master's degrees and 35 doctoral degree programs are offered.
It has 14 NCAA Division I teams and is a member of the Southland Conference.
The school has an operating budget of $333.98 million.
It has $55.9 million in research and sponsored activity.
The school has 1,658 faculty members and 5,120 total personnel.
The president is James D. Spaniolo.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
UTA unveils new logo
By PATRICK McGEE - STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/13880540.htm
ARLINGTON — The University of Texas at Arlington's new logo features a large blue "A" and is embedded with the Star of Texas. But for the first time since becoming part of the UT System in 1967, the letters "U" and "T" are absent from the university's emblem. Instead, in smaller letters under the main logo, reads "The University of Texas." Under that, in larger letters reads, "Arlington." UT-Arlington president James Spaniolo said the new logo is not an attempt to downplay the university's affiliation with one of the nation's best known university systems. "It doesn't downplay 'University of Texas,' it highlights Arlington," Spaniolo said after the unveiling of the new brand to hundreds of cheering students showered by confetti.
Dipankar Chakravarti, a University of Colorado marketing professor said the name "University of Texas" must be at least somewhat prominent. "If people can identify what the logo stands for very quickly then they tend to judge it favorably," said Chakravarti, past president of the Society for Consumer Psychology. He said he would give UT-Arlington's new logo a five on a scale of one to seven. "It's hard to have something spectacular that will knock your socks off, but in terms of logo design it seems to hit the checkslist of the criteria pretty well," he said. UT System officials said they support the new brand.
"We congratulate the University of Texas at Arlington and President Spaniolo on the launch of their new branding initiative," system chancellor Mark Yudof said in a statement. "UTA is a great university with an important story to tell about the success of their faculty, students and alumni." Using an outside public relations firm and focus groups, the university spent nearly $355,000 developing and promoting the new brand, which was designed by a staff artist in the university's publications department. The University of North Texas spent about $200,000 less for the new brand it came up with last year.
Several students pointed out that the new logo is highlighted in orange, anchoring UT-Arlington to the flagship university in Austin, which has orange as its school color. "The simplicity appeals to me. I like how they include the orange, it's there but it's not intrusive," said Stephanie Holljes, 20, a junior studying information systems. Jeff Mooradian, 20, a sophomore was also won over. "I like it a lot. The old one was kind of plain and boring. This one's got a little bit of flair and style," the mechanical engineering major said. UT-Arlington's logo and new slogan – "Be A Maverick" – will be a spring board for an advertising campaign that starts with an advertisement in Texas Monthly magazine next month and a capital campaign that will come later.
Experts say a brand is not just a logo, but the image – or promise – an organization tries to project to the public. Spaniolo said the promise of UT-Arlington's brand will focus on the university's excellence. "Our promise is UT-Arlington is a comprehensive research university committed to empowerment," he said. "This is UT-Arlington, and this is what it means to be a Maverick." Spaniolo said the university will follow up with advertising campaigns in North Texas and Houston that target high school students and their parents about the quality of undergraduate education UT-Arlington offers.
Spaniolo and other officials said they were stunned by the huge turnout. Many hundreds of students had to be turned away from the brand launch event for lack of space in the Bluebonnet Ballroom where the brand was unveiled. Students in the ballroom cheered to performances by the university's drum line and cheerleaders. They cheered louder when the logo was first shown on large screens. Confetti was pumped from the ceilings, and cheerleaders threw a few baseball hats with the new logo into the crowd.
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
oh yeah, here is the logo....
“We shape our Cities, thereafter they shape us.”
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