Texas Tech opens new academic sciences building for research, interdisciplinary collaboration
As Texas Tech writes the first chapter of its second century, it has a new teaching tool that will allow for interdisciplinary collaboration and research.
On Friday, leaders from Texas Tech, the Texas Tech University System and members of the Lubbock community gathered on campus to cut the ribbon on Tech's newest facility — the Academic Sciences Building.
"The Academic Sciences Building is a testament to Texas Tech's vision for the future while honoring the traditional beauty of our campus," said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec. "As the first building to open in our university's second century, it embodies our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research and exceptional student experiences."
Having been designed in 2020, the new building boasts 130,000 square feet of academic labs, classrooms, offices and study areas that will house Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Geosciences, Physics & Astronomy and Psychological Sciences within the College of Arts & Sciences. It is located west of the Science Building, north of 15th Street near Detroit Avenue.
"The heartbeat of this building will be arriving soon as this is truly a space that was built for our students who will gain their education here, and for our faculty who will conduct groundbreaking research," said Tasha Dupras, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. "The space will not only allow existing students to thrive and reach new heights, but will have significant impact on our ability to attract future students and additional outstanding faculty."
Designed in the university's iconic Spanish Renaissance architecture style, the exterior pays homage to the legacy of the university's past hundred years. However, the interior is fully modern, with sleek fixtures and state-of-the-art core labs: a clean room, human sampling, biosafety level 2 and biosafety level 3.
Greeting students as they enter the ASB is a telescope named IGOR — Intercept Ground Optical Recorder. Vice Chair Ginger Kerrick Davis of the TTUS Board of Regents said the telescope used to track missiles out in White Sands, New Mexico.
However, a TTU professor was able to bring it to Texas Tech in the 1980s, and it was housed next to University Medical Center. Kerrick Davis said when she was a student at TTU, she would give tours of the telescope. It would later be closed to the public due to the area's development hindering the telescope's view.
"It sat out there for 15 years, and I would drive by all sad," Kerrick Davis said. "Dr. Vallia Antoniou called me and she said, 'I have an idea. You know, there's people that want this thing. It's very rare, and we should keep it in-house, and maybe we should put it in a place of honor.' And here it is in a place of honor."
Flanking on either side of the telescopes are two trees with significant meaning.
"These two trees have been dedicated and given to us in memory of President Schovanec's mother, Beatrice Schovanec, and also Patty Schovanec's father, Edward Jarvis," said Dupras. "These trees honor the lives of Beatrice and Edward."
On the back of the building is a hand-carved medallion to commemorate the university's centennial anniversary, as the building was incorporated into its celebrations in 2023.
In total, the new building cost $112.5 million, which was partially funded by a $12.5 million appropriation approved by the Texas Legislature during the 2021 session and Higher Education Funding.
"Winston Churchill said, 'We shape our buildings, and afterward, our buildings shape us,'" Schovanec said. "This campus reflects the careful and purposeful input of the regents, faculty and staff and many other supporters of Texas Tech University; you have indeed shaped this place where we learn and work and walk on this campus."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech opens $112 million Academic Sciences Building on campus
