Texas A&M System Regents Approve Construction Projects, Resolutions

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System approved Thursday several construction projects across System campuses and offered thanks to individuals for their work at the System and at the Texas A&M Foundation.

Approved construction included:

  • The 21st Century Classroom Building at Texas A&M University
    The regents approved construction of an $85 million classroom building. The building, which will be situated at the corner of Wellborn Road and Old Main Derive next to Cain Parking Garage, is designed to elevate teaching and learning, enrich the community and build a culture of awareness. It will feature 2,200 classroom seats, three teaching arenas that embrace “in the round” teaching style. Additionally, the Center for Teaching Excellence, Instructional Technology Services and Instructional Media Services will be moved into the facility. Construction begins in May and will be completed in May 2020.
  • West Texas A&M University Football Stadium
    The regents approved $38.8 million for the construction of the on-campus stadium for the Buffaloes. The stadium will allow the team to move from the 58-year-old Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, which is operated by Canyon Independent School District. Construction is scheduled to begin in May, and the project will be done in August 2019.
  • Health Technologies Building, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
    The regents approved construction of the Health Technologies Building at a cost of $6.5 million. The building will help the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University find success with the 25×25 initiative, which seeks to grow the number of Aggie engineering students to 25,000 by 2025. Further, the new facility is necessary to expand research space on the main campus and to create a research center for the initiative called Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations, or PATHS-UP, which will address the human and economic burden of diabetes and heart disease in underserved communities. Construction is set to start in May and be completed in January 2019.
  • Water Wastewater Treatment Expansion Project, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
    The regents approved construction of an $11 million water and wastewater treatment project. The expansion project will increase capacity of the current system, which operates at capacity. The expanded facility will allow TEEX’s world-renowned, international firefighter school to serve more fire departments.

The board also unanimously approved resolutions honoring the service of two individuals.

  • George K. Hickox Jr. ’80 was recognized for his outstanding dedication and service as Trustee of the Texas A&M Foundation, where he served for seven years. A dual degree holder with bachelor degrees in geology and petroleum engineering, Mr. Hickox spent much of his professional life in investment banking, serving as a principal in the private equity firm of Heller Hickox & Co.
  • Stephen F. Shuchart, a strategic communications major and member of Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, was recognized for his work as Student Regent of The Texas A&M University System. Mr. Shuchart plans to attend law school and serve his country as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps.

The board also appointed Dr. C. Parr Rosson III, professor and head of the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics, as Interim Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Service. Dr. Rosson is a long-time agricultural economics extension specialist focused on international trade and trade policy.

About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $4.55 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $972 million in FY 2016 and helped drive the state’s economy.

Contact: Laylan Copelin
Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6425
(512) 289-2782 cell
lcopelin@tamus.edu