The new Science Building, north of the Science Learning Center, is expected to open in fall 2020.
Students returning to The University of Texas at Dallas will see notable progress on the new 186,000-square-foot Science Building and other campus improvements that will help the University keep pace with an increasing student population that is expected to top 29,000 this fall.
“As one of the fastest-growing universities in Texas, UT Dallas continues to mature with the addition of new state-of-the-art buildings, updated infrastructure and enhanced services,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development. “In addition, the construction of the new DART station adjacent to Northside will enhance our multimodal access to the campus, which is somewhat unique for universities in Texas.”
Construction
The Science Building, on track to open in fall 2020, will house the Department of Physics, the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, several classrooms, offices, and teaching and research labs. It will also feature 150-seat and 300-seat lecture halls, and an open courtyard with green space and seating areas.
A new 3,000-square-foot concessions and restroom building on the Athletic Fields at the south end of campus will better accommodate UT Dallas athletic teams, community sports groups and spectators.
Other ongoing construction and renovation projects include a housing operations and storage building on Lot T and a new roof for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders building on the Richardson campus.
Developers are working on the next phase of Northside, a mixed-use project just north of campus that will add 370 beds and expanded dining options.
Also at Northside, a groundbreaking on Sept. 19 will mark the beginning of construction for the UT Dallas station on the new DART Silver Line. The line is expected to begin operating in December 2022 and will provide access from Plano to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The Engineering and Computer Science West building, which opened last fall, will be formally dedicated on Sept. 26. The building was recognized over the summer with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status and an R&D Magazine Lab of the Year Award – Special Mention.
The campus has become even greener with the addition of 100 trees and about 4,000 ground-cover plants this summer. Beginning this winter, the third phase of the Campus Landscape Enhancement project will transform Rutford Avenue south of Loop Road into a pedestrian promenade and also address other areas on campus.
For information about construction on or around campus, visit the Pardon Our Progress website.
Parking and Transportation
Parking guidance systems in all parking structures will help drivers quickly find available spaces. Drivers will be able to find spaces in real time by checking display signs at parking structure entrances or by clicking on the parking tab on the UTD mobile app.
Guidance systems help drivers know how many spaces are available inside the three parking structures on campus.
Comet Cabs, the University’s campus shuttle service, will run six routes this semester that can be tracked by GPS.
Comet Cruisers, the DART 883 route buses that serve the University and surrounding community, offer GPS-equipped buses. Please review the route maps and schedules to make your transportation plans.
Students may now get their DART passes via the DART mobile app. To request a DART GoPass for your mobile phone, you must be an enrolled UT Dallas student with a valid Comet Card.
Parking permits may be purchased online or in person at the PS3 parking office (PS3 1.200) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays. TollTags are also available for purchase.
A License Plate Recognition system that automatically reads license plates is being piloted this semester. The system will be implemented in spring 2020 to eliminate the need for parking stickers.
For more information, contact Parking and Transportation.
Dining
UT Dallas will offer students enhanced dining options with a refresh of the Comet Café in the Student Union. In a response to student surveys, Subway, Ben & Jerry’s and Za’tar will be replaced with Firehouse Subs, Smoothie King and The Halal Shack.
The Comet Café also has been upgraded to include new drink stations and light fixtures, and mobile ordering will soon be a feature. The renovation is expected to be completed by the first week of classes.
The Comet Café in the Student Union will feature three new dining options — Firehouse Subs, Smoothie King and The Halal Shack. The cafe is expected to reopen by the first week of classes.
New CVS vending machines in Dining Hall West and the Student Union now provide students with a range of pharmacy items, such as personal care and hygiene products. The machines stay open until midnight in the Student Union and until 1 a.m. in Dining Hall West.
A standalone, 1,700-square-foot Starbucks is under construction at Floyd Road and Synergy Park Boulevard.
Nearly 20 local food trucks on a rotating schedule will provide expanded dining options Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the walkway between the Student Union and the Engineering and Computer Science North building.
The Dining Services tab on the UTD mobile app includes a new What’s Open Now feature that shows the locations and operating hours of food vendors.
For more information, visit the Dining Services website, and follow dining updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
