Texas Tech Officials Cut Ribbon on Newest Academic Facility

The Academic Sciences Building offers greater opportunities for collaboration, research and experiential learning.

Officials from Texas Tech University, the Texas Tech University System and other community stakeholders celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony today (Aug. 9), officially declaring the Academic Sciences Building (ASB) open for business just as a new academic year appears on the horizon.

Courtyard — The courtyard features an IGOR telescope from White Sands Missile Range.

Courtyard with IGOR telescope — The courtyard features an IGOR telescope from White Sands Missile Range.

A mere two and a half years after its groundbreaking, the three-story, 130,000-square-foot space became the newest academic facility on the Texas Tech campus. It is located just west of the Chemistry and Science buildings. The early morning event took place in the building’s courtyard, which features an IGOR telescope from White Sands Missile Range.

“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.”

The ASB includes teaching and laboratory space for five departments within the College of Arts & Sciences: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Geosciences, Physics & Astronomy and Psychological Sciences.

“This space will allow not only existing students to thrive and reach new heights but will have significant impact on our ability to attract future students and additional outstanding faculty,” said Tosha Dupras, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “I look forward to two weeks from now when the hallways, classrooms and labs will be filled with students and faculty.”

In addition to the five academic departments, the building will house four core interdisciplinary research labs: a clean room, human sampling, biosafety level 2 and biosafety level 3.

The project design began in November 2020. Along the way, construction teams moved 25,500 cubic yards of dirt over the course of 35 days for the basement. The concrete structure required 1,000 trucks with 10,000 cubic yards of concrete, 1,000 tons of rebar and 39,000 feet of post-tension cables.

The building’s west side features a medallion that pays tribute to Texas Tech’s recently concluded centennial celebration. The hand-carved medallion includes the symbol for the atom in recognition of the sciences and contains a Double T at the center with the dates 1923-2023.

The $112.5 million facility was partially funded by a $12.5 million appropriation approved by the Texas Legislature during the 2021 session as well as Higher Education Funding. Characterized by the familiar Spanish Renaissance architecture synonymous with the Texas Tech campus, the ASB includes state-of-the-art, hands-on classrooms, laboratory and research space as well as faculty offices and space for student interaction.

“This will be a place of collaboration and innovation for some of our greatest minds to develop solutions to the needs of our fellow West Texans, our state and the world,” said Mark Griffin, chairman of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents. “This building is unique in that it bridges all Texas Tech has accomplished over the past 100 years and everything that is still possible.”