A building that is 85 years old – and home to a Chemistry Department ranked 12th in the nation – will receive much needed renovations, new laboratories and improved classroom spaces, thanks to the Texas Legislature.
Last week, Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation authorizing construction bonds that in part will pay for important improvements to Welch Hall. The building not only fosters research discoveries from some of the world's leading chemists, it also hosts classes and activities for roughly 10,000 University of Texas at Austin students each day.
State leaders' investment in campus buildings at universities and colleges throughout Texas include approving constructions bonds for $75 million toward renovations at Welch Hall. Key champions for the legislation included Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo and Rep. John Zerwas of Houston.
"In a growing state with a priority for an educated workforce, the need for classroom, lab and other academic space is clear," Seliger, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, told The Dallas Morning News.
The overall cost of renovations for Welch is estimated at $125 million. A combination of University investment and private donations, in addition to the state construction bonds, will enable critical renovations and modernization throughout the building, including to the air-handling system.
Renovations to the oldest wing of Welch Hall started earlier this month and will include new classrooms and modern research and teaching labs, as well as dedicated labs for the Freshman Research Initiative.
Comments 2
Lots of constructions all over campus these days!
About time, the place was ancient when I graduated in 1970, remember the library annex in the attic, needed an early 19th century copy of compt rendue.