Major renovations will soon begin on UT Arlington’s University Center building
The University of Texas at Arlington will soon begin construction on a major renovation and alteration project to some of the buildings on its main campus, records show.
Filings made to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on Tuesday show that UT Arlington is planning to demolish a portion of the existing E.H. Hereford University Center building, at 300 W. First St. in Arlington. The filings also show it is planning a new 92,000 square foot addition to the building and a 93,000 square foot renovation. The project is expected to cost $120 million.
The filings show that construction will start on June 1, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2028. However, the university hopes the project is finished before the fall 2028 semester.
According to a UTA webpage with project details, April 3 was the last day students could hold events in the University Center due to upcoming construction.
The project includes modernizing student lounge spaces, new meeting space, a resource center with office space for more student organization, study space, more natural light, improved technology in meeting rooms, sustainably designed facilities and overall infrastructure improvements, according to the university.
The building’s existing basement will be the main portion of the building that will be demolished. That will make way for a three-story improvement. Departments that are housed in the building’s basement will be temporarily moved to another place on campus until the project is completed.
Last year, the university passed a referendum that raised the student union fee from $30 per semester to $150, and $75 to $170 for summer semester students to help fund the project, according to The Shorthorn, the school’s student newspaper.
More in-depth renderings and plans for the future of the building will be released in the coming months.
The University Center was first built in 1953 and is the central hub of student life on campus. It includes dining options, stores, cafes, a ballroom, mail center, the school’s career services office and a number of student organization spaces.
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 3:16 PM.
