UTA's $160M University Center Renovation Under Construction

Construction is underway on the University Center Renovation and Expansion at UT Arlington, 300 West 1st Street. The project totals roughly 200,740 square feet across two floors: about 99,420 square feet of renovation and 101,320 square feet of new construction. SmithGroup designed the project with Workshop Architects and university leadership.

Work began June 1, 2026, after the UT System Board of Regents approved final funding May 21. A TDLR filing lists a $120 million construction cost; The Shorthorn reports total project cost at $160 million including construction, preconstruction, design fees and soft costs. A 2024 student referendum raised the student union fee from $39 to $150 per semester to help fund the work. Completion is projected for January 2029, a roughly 30-month renovation.

The scope was cut from original plans for a three-story building with 166,444 square feet of new construction. The west side is being demolished while the east side is renovated. The original University Center dates to 1953 and had 10 prior renovations and expansions.

Features include a two-story corner gathering space, an outdoor patio with shade trellis, wooden decks and a water feature, and a stage with mezzanine overlooking the main gathering area. The project adds dining with four times the seating, student organization meeting and project rooms, and student senate chambers. The Rosebud Theater is being converted to flat-floor function space. The design adds natural light and improved wayfinding.