New learning complex features 30 classrooms, a café, rooftop terrace, faculty offices and latest technology to serve thousands of students
EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 15, 2026) – The University of Texas at El Paso celebrated the grand opening of Texas Western Hall this morning, unveiling a transformative 124,725-square-foot learning complex that will serve as a hub for teaching and campus life.
The University of Texas at El Paso celebrated the grand opening of Texas Western Hall this morning, unveiling a transformative 124,725-square-foot learning complex that will serve as a hub for teaching and campus life. Pictured (L-R): Liberal Arts Assistant Dean Rafael Valadez, Creative Writing Department Chair Daniel Chacon, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Selfa Chew, History Department Chair Ernesto Chavez, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Caitlyn Muniz, Director of Advancement for the College of Liberal Arts John Aranda, Associate Dean for Faculty Charles Boehmer, College of Liberal Arts Dean Anadeli Bencomo, State Rep. Vince Perez, State Rep. Joe Moody, State Sen. Cesar Blanco, SGA President Ryan Boatright, UTEP President Heather Wilson, University of Texas System Chancellor John Zerwas, Sylvia Zerwas, UTEP Mascot Paydirt Pete and City Rep. Lily Limon.
The $110 million facility, funded through $57.1 million in permanent university funds approved by The University of Texas System Board of Regents in 2023 and $52.4 million from the Texas Legislature in 2021, represents a significant investment in the future of higher education in the Paso del Norte region.
John Zerwas, MD, chancellor of the UT System, State Sen. César Blanco and other local leaders joined UTEP President Heather Wilson at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new building Thursday morning.
“Texas Western Hall replaces a 1960s-era building with state-of-the art learning spaces,” Wilson said. “It is both beautiful — inside and out — and functional.”
Texas Western Hall houses 30 classrooms with capacity for more than 1,700 students, including a large 150-seat auditorium equipped with advanced audiovisual technology. The facility also includes 20 collaboration rooms and 3,000 square foot rooftop terrace that can seat 200 offering sweeping views of Centennial Plaza.
The building features a striking 2,300-square-foot lobby with 40-foot ceilings and a floor radiant heating system that circulates warm water through tubing embedded in the concrete floor, providing consistent temperatures and improved energy efficiency. The exterior reflects UTEP’s distinctive Bhutanese architectural style, complemented by landscape architecture that connects the campus with native Chihuahuan Desert plants.
“The University of Texas System is proud to support projects that will serve generations of UTEP students,” Zerwas said. “Texas Western Hall will elevate the educational experience and prepare students to lead in their communities and professions.”
The complex includes amenities designed to enhance campus life, including the Texas Western Café, which will serve up to 450 customers daily.
Blanco highlighted the collaborative work that brought the project to fruition while keeping the needs of the students in focus.
“During the last legislative session, I was proud to help bring to life a vision shaped by student voices; one that honors the past while building for the future. By working closely with the Regents, we are delivering a first-class academic building without shifting the cost onto students. UTEP has kept tuition and fees flat for four years, proving we can invest in higher education while keeping college affordable,” the state senator said.
Located southeast of UTEP’s current Liberal Arts Building, Texas Western Hall replaces that facility, which will be demolished later this year. The university set aside funds from the Texas Western Hall project to restore the arroyo and connect the new gardens in and around it to Centennial Plaza.
Texas Western Hall was named in recognition of the University’s evolution beyond its founding as the School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1913. Renamed Texas Western College in 1948, the institution broadened its identity to unite engineers, teachers and liberal arts students, reflecting the comprehensive University UTEP is today.
Sundt Construction served as the general contractor, while Ayers Saint Gross contributed to the architectural design.
“This is the second major construction project Sundt has done for UTEP. Both projects have been completed on time, at or below cost, and have met our requirements,” said Wilson. “We appreciate their partnership and good work.”
Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in late 2023 and involved more than 1,000 workers, including approximately 37 UTEP alumni among the design and construction teams.
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 15, 2026
By MC Staff
UTEP Marketing and Communications