(May 25, 2018) – Anyone who drives on or near the UTSA Main Campus will notice cranes and crews in hard hats working on two major construction projects that will change the way UTSA students learn. Work is well underway on the Science and Engineering Building (SEB) and Large-Scale Structural Testing Facility (LSSTF).
UTSA broke ground on the SEB nearly one year ago and work continues to advance. Crews have finished pouring concrete for the foundation and first floor, and the second floor is almost complete. The final floor is expected to be poured by the end of summer. Utility infrastructure in the below-grade crawlspace is also under way, signifying the beginning of building interior work.
Underground work has started at the Paseo del Sur to coordinate future elevated walkway piers with existing campus infrastructure. The elevated walkways will connect the campus’ upper plaza, south of the Engineering Building, with the SEB and a new 122-space surface parking lot.
The SEB will provide laboratory, classroom and collaborative space for UTSA’s academic and research programs in brain health, chemical engineering, biology and chemistry. At $95 million, it’s the largest construction project in UTSA history.
The building will include a two-story distillation column that will allow chemical engineering students to study different types of mixtures, just as practicing chemical engineers do in industrial facilities. The instrument was made possible by a gift from Bill and Margie Klesse through the Klesse Foundation. The SEB is slated to open in 2020.
Another ongoing construction project is the Large-Scale Structural Testing Facility or “High Bay,” which towers over West Campus just off Loop 1604. The 15,000-square-foot, $10 million building will be a game changer, transforming engineering education and research at UTSA. The 50-foot tall facility will provide a venue where civil engineers can test structural systems, such as concrete buildings, in a large and realistic setting.
Since September 2017, Turner Construction Company has focused its manpower on erecting the steel building. Crews completed work on the building’s unique strong floor in February. Under the strong floor is a basement structure for researchers to perform their work.
Once the LSSTF is complete in spring 2019, it will feature a laboratory with two cranes that each have a 30-ton capacity for loading, unloading and transporting heavy specimens. Civil and structural engineering researchers will conduct research in the building that simulates a wide range of building- and bridge-related structural challenges, including high cycle fatigue, earthquakes and blast loads.
The UTSA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of the university’s most innovative departments, with researchers aiding in work to prevent landslides, create drinkable water from rainfall and harvest energy from hot pavement, among many other initiatives.
“Construction of the SEB and the LSSTF is integral to UTSA’s continuing transformation into a premier academic and research institution, said Dave Riker, UTSA interim senior associate vice president for Business Affairs. “Since 2004, UTSA has invested more than $800 million in capital construction and major renovations and the institutional footprint has nearly doubled to 5.4 million square feet, greatly contributing to the expansion of the knowledge enterprise.“
Learn more about the UTSA Science and Engineering Building.
Learn more about the Large-Scale Structural Testing Facility.
Explore the UTSA College of Sciences and UTSA College of Engineering.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Interested in wellbeing programs, events and resources? Every Wednesday at noon you can stop by virtually and ask any questions you may have about Student Health Services, Counseling and Mental Health Services, and the PEACE office.
Virtual EventLearn more about Omada Health, a free healthy living program available to eligible UTSELECT members. This will be a live webinar in honor of National Nutrition Month (March) and Diabetes Alert Day (March 23). Get your questions answered and find out if Omada is right for you
Virtual EventJoin our Health Education team and our Relationship Advocate as we discuss all things Sexual Health, STIs, Healthy Relationships, and more! This is your chance to learn what wasn't taught in High School! You can even submit questions anonymously and we'll answer them.
Virtual EventSession for social scientists on how to identify and understand which programs within NSF and NIH fund social sciences, what reviewers are typically looking for, and common mistakes to avoid. The presenter will also cover how to identify private foundations that may be interested in funding your social science research.
Virtual EventJoin our Health Educators as we go over a very brief and basic presentation over proper nutrition, reading food labels, and portion sizes.
Virtual EventOpen to members of the LGBTQ in all stages of identity formation from questioning to integration who seek a safe place to discuss issues.
Virtual EventGeneral Assembly is a time when all members and officers of SGA come together to discuss important issues regarding UTSA and finding solutions through legislation or initiatives. Important updates are regularly given by SGA officers, UTSA administrators, or special guests. Our meetings are open to the public and are held on a weekly basis.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.