UTSA dedicates Applied Engineering and Technology Building March 10

New Applied Engineering and Technology Building, UTSA Main Campus

New Applied Engineering and Technology Building, UTSA Main Campus
(March 5, 2010)--At 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 10, UTSA will take another step in its growth to Tier One status with the dedication of the $82.5 million, 145,440-square-foot Applied Engineering and Technology (AET) Building. The dedication, which is free and open to the public, will be at the outdoor plaza between the AET and Biosciences buildings on the Main Campus.
Special guests at the dedication will include Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas System; Bartell Zachry, chairman of Zachry Holdings; and state Sen. Judith Zaffirini.
"The Applied Engineering and Technology Building is a dream come true for UTSA and our students," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "As UTSA continues to evolve into a Tier One research university, technologically advanced facilities like the AET Building are crucial in supporting collaboration between students and faculty in both the laboratory and the classroom."
The AET Building was designed to support world-class research and teaching in science and engineering. The four-floor facility includes 87 faculty offices, 36 laboratories, five classrooms and collaborative study niches. The ground floor includes classroom and laboratory space. Faculty from the College of Engineering's biomedical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering departments will primarily occupy laboratory and office space on the first and second floors. The College of Sciences' Department of Physics and Astronomy will occupy the third floor.
Ultra-modern features characterize UTSA's new research building. In student study areas, whiteboards on wheels serve as privacy screens while enabling group discussions. Department meeting spaces are equipped with Internet-ready smart boards that can be hooked up to laptops and used to record and recall discussion notes. Classrooms feature glass fronts, contemporary furniture and advanced digital equipment. The building's laboratory stools were chosen because they provide the least amount of physical strain to researchers, who often work at laboratory benches for hours on end.
The AET Building also houses UTSA's first satellite library. The bookless library was designed with engineering and science students in mind. On the building's paseo level, the 2,200-square-foot facility is near laboratories and classrooms and features moveable dividers to create spaces for collaborative and individual study. The satellite library has digital monitors and whiteboards to aid group projects, along with 12 computer stations and librarians to assist students in finding information they need. There will be tours of the satellite library after the AET Building dedication ceremony. The library facility will be fully equipped and open for business by the end of April.
The AET Building was designed by San Antonio architectural firm Garza-Bomberger, engineered by Austin-based HMG and Associates and constructed by general contractor Walbridge/Bartlett Cocke. Additionally, UTSA alumni in engineering and architecture worked on the project, which was funded by the Permanent University Fund and tuition revenue bonds.
>> To learn more about the UTSA Applied Engineering and Technology Building or to schedule a behind-the-scenes tour of the building, contact Christi Fish at 210-458-7584.
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Event parking
Exit Interstate 10 at UTSA Boulevard (west) and turn right into the UTSA Main Campus on Edward Ximenez Avenue. Parking will be available on the right in lot 6, adjacent to the Applied Engineering and Technology and Biosciences buildings and South Parking Garage.
Events
The UTSA University Career Center invites you to attend the STEM Career Expo from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feburary 1. Meet, connect and recruit UTSA students and alumni.
H-E-B Student Union BallroomThe UTSA University Career Center invites you to attend the All Majors Career Expo from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feburary 8. Meet, connect and recruit UTSA students.
H-E-B Student Union BallroomTo coincide with the annual observance of Black History Month, the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures will unveil new content in the African American Texans exhibit including the "Fabric of a People" quilt and the "You Take It From Here" oral history project.
UTSA Institute of Texan CulturesTexan fiber artist Taylor Barnes will share her experiences: where she was introduced to the personal and oral histories that influenced her artistic practice, as well as the significance of quilting and textile art in Black American history. A Q&A session will follow.
Virtual eventPresented by the African American Quilt Circle of San Antonio, attendees will learn basic sewing and quilting skills. RSVP required.
UTSA Institute of Texan CulturesMembers of the African American Quilt Circle of San Antonio will be at the JPL to discuss their works in the new ITC exhibition "Fabric of a People." Chat about the heritage of African American story quilts or ask questions about quilting.
John Peace Library, GroupSpot BUTSA and 13 of the leading Hispanic Serving Institutions will come together to provide students and alumni an opportunity to network and interview with more than 250 companies from around the country.
Handshake (Virtual Fair Platform)