Students returning to The University of Texas at Dallas for the spring semester will see a nearly completed 186,000-square-foot Science Building and work beginning on campus landscaping enhancements as the University moves forward to accommodate its rapidly growing student population.

“The arrival of 2020 continues UT Dallas’ transformational journey with new construction, the introduction of robots for food service delivery, additional landscaping, and the expanded growth of Northside. This is an exciting time for the UT Dallas community,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development. 

Construction

The new Science Building is expected to open this fall.

The Science Building, expected to be substantially completed this spring, is on track to open in fall 2020. It will house the Department of Physics, the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, several classrooms, offices, and teaching and research labs. The building will also feature 150-seat and 300-seat lecture halls and an open courtyard with green space and seating areas.

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. Vehicular traffic on that section of Rutford Avenue will be restricted.

Other ongoing construction and renovation projects include a housing operations and storage building between Residence Halls North and West and a new roof for Cecil Green Hall.

Ground was broken last year at Northside for the new UT Dallas station for Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Silver Line.

Construction is also progressing 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, construction will begin on the UT Dallas station on the new Dallas Area Rapid Transit (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.

For information about construction on or around campus, visit the Pardon Our Progress website. 

Parking and Transportation

A license plate recognition system that automatically reads license plates is being tested this semester to eliminate the need for parking stickers in the future. In the meantime, stickers will be issued for parking permits, which must be purchased either 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.

Traffic on Rutford Avenue south of Loop Road is restricted as work will begin this spring on the next phase of the Campus Landscape Enhancement project.

Parking guidance systems in all parking structures will help drivers quickly find available spaces. Drivers can 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.

Comet Cabs, the University’s campus shuttle service, will run six routes this semester that can be tracked by GPS.

Comet Cruiser, the DART Route 883 bus that serves the University and surrounding community, offers GPS tracking. You do not need any sort of pass or identification to use this bus. Please review the route maps (PDF) and schedules to make 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. 

For more information, contact Parking and Transportation. 

Dining

UT Dallas is expanding dining options for students, staff and faculty. Spring dining hours begin Monday, Jan. 13.

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. 

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.

A stand-alone 1,700-square-foot Starbucks will open later this spring at Northside near Synergy Park Boulevard and Floyd Road.

For more information, visit the Dining Services website, and follow dining updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Food Delivery Robots Land on Campus

You’ve probably noticed the white, spaceship-looking robots making their way around campus. No, it’s not an extraterrestrial invasion. They are actually self-driving food delivery vehicles.

The robots are from Starship Technologies and are sponsored by Chartwells, the University’s food services provider. UT Dallas is only the second campus in the state to use this new technology.

Here’s what you need to know:

Anyone on campus can order from Panda Express, Smoothie King, Smash’d, The Pub at UTD, Halal Shack, Firehouse Subs, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jason’s Deli, Papa John’s Pizza, and other providers through the Starship Deliveries app — which can be downloaded from their website — for delivery by one of 30 robots on campus.

A delivery fee of $1.99 is added to each order, which can be paid for with a credit card.

The robots move at about 4 mph, and customers can expect to get their food within 30 minutes. The robots are not able to enter buildings, so customers must meet robots at the door. But don’t forget to bring your phone — the locked robots can only be unlocked through the app.