From the sound of heavy machinery outside the Union Building to the demolition of the Liberal Arts Building, construction has become part of daily life at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Over the next several years, students can expect even more changes as UTEP moves forward with a series of major construction projects, including Minor Crossing, a renovated Student Union, a Student Success Center and an Arroyo Park.

While detours and temporary relocations will happen, Vice President for Student Affairs, Catie McCorry-Andalis, Ed.D., said each project was designed with student success in mind and that the long-term goal is to create a campus better equipped to serve a growing student population.

Dr. Catie McCorry-Andalis, right, discusses upcoming campus development plans with Ximena Cordero, left, at the University of Texas at El Paso, Thursday, June 25, 2026. The interview focused on how ongoing and future construction projects will impact campus life for students. (Carol Mora)

“We are very mindful of what our students’ needs are, and all of these projects I think have the students at the forefront of ensuring success while they’re here at UTEP,” McCorry-Andalis said. “I firmly believe that UTEP is a top-notch institution, and we do public higher education the right way, providing access to this institution, but not lowering the bar on excellence.”

Miner Crossing

One of the biggest projects for the university is Minor Crossing, UTEP’s future five-story residence hall for first-year students located on the north side of Kidd Field.

Officials broke ground on May 28, and construction crews are currently preparing the site by installing utilities and laying out the foundation before the building begins to take shape.

Unlike UTEP’s apartment-style housing, Minor Crossing is intended to provide a more traditional first-year living experience complete with an on-site dining hall, intended to help students transition to college life.

The residence hall is scheduled to open in fall 2028, with prospective students able to select rooms beginning in fall 2027.

McCorry-Andalis said demand for campus housing continues to grow.

“For the past four years, we have had a wait list for housing, and this fall [fall 2026] we will have it again,” McCorry-Andalis said. “The desire to be here and just engross in student engagement and student life is very much what students want to do.”

McCorry-Andalis says she expects the new residence hall to attract both students from outside the El Paso area and more local students interested in living on campus for the academic and social benefits as well as the economic benefits.

“We have students who get apartments off campus or even are commuting from home, which for many of our students is absolutely fine, but when you start adding it up, the cost of gas, wear and tear in your vehicle, having to plan getting into research labs or internships, it becomes a bit challenging,” McCorry-Andalis said. “So, being a little bit more central is helpful.”

Arroyo Park

The nearly demolished Liberal Arts Building marks another major milestone in UTEP’s campus transformation.
McCorry-Andalis said the building, constructed in 1961, had become increasingly susceptible to flooding as development throughout El Paso changed the surrounding landscape.

“We are on track to completely demolish the Liberal Arts building by the end of the summer, if not sooner,” McCorry-Andalis said. “We haven’t had a lot of rain yet, which is helping this group do what they need to do, but liberal arts really sunk down in there, so if you go look, there’s still a bit more like the first floor basement they’re getting out of, so once that happens, then the restoration will start to occur, and so the completion will happen in two phases.”

The first phase will be completed in 2028 at the southern side closest to the Texas Western, then the second phase will be full completion by 2031 closer to the new Student Union building.

Construction crew members working at a campus renovation site at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Carol Mora)

After demolition, crews will begin restoring the area into a landscaped green space connecting Texas Western Hall with the future Student Union through walking paths, study areas and a pedestrian bridge.

“It’ll be great for students, little niches to sit down and study, but you know, we’re a campus for the community, so people walk their dogs all the time, or kids come out of little tricycles through here, like I’m excited about that,” McCorry-Andalis said. “We are not one of those institutions that have a big gate that you have to get permission to come in, like this is not my institution, it’s this community’s institution.”

Union Buildings and Student Success Center

Planning is also underway for the Student Union renovation and the new Student Success Center, which McCorry-Andalis said are following nearly identical timelines.

During construction, departments such as the Counseling Center and the Student Engagement and Leadership Center will temporarily relocate, while Union East will remain open.

A construction crew member navigates through a campus demolition site at the University of Texas at El Paso, Thursday, June 25, 2026.

“Nothing will change on Union East side,” McCorry-Andalis said. “All services will operate, stay the same. One of the challenges that we’ll work through with the architects and the design folks is when construction happens.”

To help students navigate construction zones, UTEP has revived its “On the Move” committee, which coordinates campus traffic, pedestrian routes and communication during large-scale construction.

Students can find signs designed to look like a Lego Paydirt Pete that will help them navigate detour routes. These signs can already be spotted on Glory Road around the Miner Crossing construction site.

The Student Success Center will replace the El Paso Natural Gas Center and bring several student support offices under one roof, including the Counseling Center, the Center for Accommodations and Support Services, the Military Student Success Center and UTEP Engage. The facility will also feature dining options and gathering spaces designed to make services easier to access.

One concern students won’t have to worry about, McCorry-Andalis joked, is losing Chick-fil-A.

“Obviously, we are very concerned about Chick-fil-A,” McCorry-Andalis said. “We all want the Chick-fil-A, so Chick-fil-A will stay where we are. We’ll share pretty soon where they’re gonna go, but trust me, we will not cut [it] off.”

Parking and the future of campus

As construction continues, parking will remain a challenge, though university officials are studying long-term solutions.
A campuswide parking study is examining everything from lot locations and shuttle routes to bike paths and public transportation to better accommodate future enrollment growth.

McCorry-Andalis said the projects are part of a broader vision to support record enrollment while giving students more places to study, gather and access campus resources.

“I think giving students… the place for them to come and have their own [spaces],” McCorry-Andalis said. “To see comedians, to have bands, to do movie nights, like the things that also support a sense of belonging.”

Although construction will continue for several years, McCorry-Andalis said students have helped shape many of the projects through feedback and referendums, including the Student Union renovation.

“I hope they’re [students] excited,” McCorry-Andalis said. “I know it’s going to have some challenges the next couple of years, but I think if we continue to focus on what’s to come, we can get through this time period. I truly do mean this, I love that I’m at a campus that cares so deeply about student success.”

Ximena Cordero is the editor-in-chief for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected], on LinkedIn @ximenacordero, an on Instagram @ximenacordero.reports