A rendering of the future home of the School of Data Science and the NSCC.
JUNE 9, 2020 — The University of Texas at San Antonio today announced it has awarded the contract for design build services for its School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center, two major initiatives at its Downtown Campus that will serve as the hub for its data intelligence and cybersecurity programs.
Whiting-Turner | Jacobs | Overland has been selected to design and construct the building, which will house both programs. The $90 million facility is slated to open in 2022 on a property that abuts the San Pedro Creek project just east of the existing Downtown Campus footprint. Once completed and occupied, the building will house programs anchoring UTSA to San Antonio’s burgeoning high-tech corridor. It is also adjacent to the Continental Hotel redevelopment project, led by Weston Urban. Some housing for students, staff and faculty will be available because of that project.
The School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center are part of UTSA’s vision to help the university earn national recognition as a research-intensive institution. It is a critical component of UTSA’s Campus Master Plan, which charts a course for the university to reach new levels of excellence over the next 10 years.
“The School of Data Science will be the first of its kind in Texas and, combined with the power of the National Security Collaboration Center, will be a formidable leader in addressing national security challenges,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. “I am grateful to Graham Weston for his original lead gift of $15 million that enabled this project to go forward with support from The University of Texas Board of Regents and University of Texas System, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. Partnering with our city’s high-tech leaders, this project will set UTSA and San Antonio apart as pioneers in data science and cybersecurity while providing innovative solutions for government and industry.”
Whiting-Turner | Jacobs | Overland was one of three top teams evaluated for the design contract, based on 12 criteria: project site planning and exterior place making; building program; design intent; security, information technology and communication systems; safety management program; construction phase services; project execution plan; estimating and cost control measures; project planning and scheduling; warranty and service support program; quality control and commissioning program; and pricing and delivery.
Selection was made using a qualitative blind scoring system that ranked their proposals as the best value to the university for the project based on those 12 criteria.
The new facility will house the School of Data Science, including 84,500 square feet of classroom, laboratory and research space. The new school will place UTSA’s 70-plus faculty members in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data and analytics, and artificial intelligence under one roof in the heart of the city to provide government, industry and community partners with access to UTSA’s nationally recognized programs and talent.
The School of Data Science will become the home to UTSA’s departments of Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Statistics and Data Sciences, Information Systems and Cyber Security, and the Open Cloud Institute.
The new facility will also include 72,000 square feet of innovation space, laboratories and research facilities for the National Security Collaboration Center. It will serve as a hub for government, university and industry partners in the cybersecurity field, focusing on forensics; visualization and analytics; network security, cyber training and workforce development; big data analytics and privacy; postquantum cryptography, cyber-physical systems and embedded security; the security of the cloud; attack and threat modeling and mitigation; machine learning and artificial intelligence; and platform, software and hardware integrity.
The Downtown Campus already includes academic programs administered by the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning; the College for Health, Community and Policy; and the College of Education and Human Development.
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As the pandemic continues, many individuals are facing significant stress, changing circumstances, and uncertainty. This important session will provide supervisors and managers with several practical strategies for helping their employees to better manage their stress and adjust to changes including transitioning back to the physical workplace
Virtual EventThe vaccine clinics, hosted by Metro Health San Antonio, will be held in the Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28) and will continue through early August. After you receive your vaccine on campus, you can enjoy lunch on us. All participants will receive a free $10 Rowdy Dollars gift card, redeemable at any dining or retail location on campus.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28), Student Union, Main CampusSince 2020, most of us have been dealing with higher levels of stress, changing circumstances, and uncertainty. This important session will discuss several practical strategies for managing stress, adjusting to change, and coping with a future that may seem unclear.
Virtual EventThe vaccine clinics, hosted by Metro Health San Antonio, will be held in the Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28) and will continue through early August. After you receive your vaccine on campus, you can enjoy lunch on us. All participants will receive a free $10 Rowdy Dollars gift card, redeemable at any dining or retail location on campus.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28), Student Union, Main CampusLearn more and register for NCFDD’s Core Curriculum webinar series! The NCFDD’s Core Curriculum is designed to teach you the 10 key skills necessary to Thrive in the Academy. We define “thriving” as having extraordinary writing and research productivity AND having a full and healthy life off campus.
Virtual EventDuring these difficult times many employees are experiencing higher levels of stress. Strategies for supervisors to encourage individuals to live more balanced lifestyles to remain healthy and productive.
Virtual EventThis past year, our world has been faced with a series of difficult and stressful circumstances that have left many of us feeling anxious. This practical session will discuss several practical approaches to dealing with anxiety including managing our self-talk, expressing our emotions, and seeking appropriate support from others
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.
