Building and Development

The University has committed to sustainable construction practices.
Plant growing out of a yellow hard hat.

Going Green

As a full-service, 24-hour operation, we have more in common with a small municipality than a single business. We have our citizenry—nearly 44,000 students and nearly 8,000 employees—as well as our own housing, businesses, transportation fleet, and police force. The campus spans 420 acres and features 112 buildings, providing centers for learning and administration; research, laboratory, and medical facilities; on-campus housing; places for dining, exercising, shopping, and socializing; sports and cultural venues; and more. It also includes a thermal plant that provides heating and cooling services.

Because the University’s main campus is in the heart of downtown Arlington, our growth is felt throughout the region. Since 2007 the University has added 2.24 million square feet of building space to the campus, with more growth planned in the coming years. Our aim is to manage this growth responsibly, and the Campus Master Plan provides a blueprint for responsible development through mindful planning and design that focuses on sustainable buildings, resource stewardship, and climate responsive outdoor spaces accentuated by native plants.

Green Building Policy

SEIR Building

In fall 2018 UTA opened the new SEIR building, a state-of-the-art teaching and research space that is the heart of life and health science research on campus. The modern glass and steel building provides a new, iconic southern entry to the UTA campus, south of the existing Life Science building. SEIR is designed to accommodate planned growth in the Colleges of Engineering, Nursing and Health Innovation, and Science.

The building is designed in accordance with sustainable practices, including high-energy efficient heating and cooling systems, water conservation practices, and sustainable materials for flooring and interior finishes.

New Construction

The University’s master plan is based upon best practices for sustainable initiatives. Example of this includes the LEED certification program “gray to green” concept of reducing surface parking lots and replacing them with more sustainable features including landscaping, green spaces and tree canopies. Another example of this is The Green at College Park, a 2.6-acre park on the south side of College Park Center at Center and Mitchell Streets. This was one of the first projects to be certified through the Sustainable Sites Initiative, a certification similar to LEEDS but focused on landscape design.

Storm water management

Storm water management improvements in this area have included the incorporation of a 28,000 gallon rainwater collection system for the Engineering Research Building and the development of The Green at College Park. The rainwater collection system will retain approximately one inch of rainfall on site as well as the ability to capture condensate water from the air conditioning system’s summer operation. This water will be used on site for irrigation purposes. The Green at College Park incorporates several sustainable features that are covered more thoroughly under another work group highlighting a rill garden which filters storm water prior to it leaving the site. The Green also replaced four large apartment buildings that were acquired by the University and demolished, resulting in...

Innovation design

Innovation design construction will increase where buildings are intended to be functional beyond normal life expectancy. Construction materials such as concrete and steel structural elements are inherent in the design, an example of this includes the Engineering Research Building, College Park Center, College Park District (parking garage/residence hall), West Campus Parking Garage, West Residence Hall, The Commons (student center), and SEIR Building.

Pedestrian Malls

Within the Campus Master Plan is the concept of creating additional pedestrian malls in areas which are currently vehicular streets. An example includes the closure of West First Street between Yates and College Streets. This area was transformed into an attractive outdoor space featuring enhanced landscaping, with brick pavers and benches, etc. Yates Street east of Nedderman Hall was converted to a pedestrian mall as well.

Historical Real Estate Review

Regarding real estate transactions for the University, when new properties are acquired an environmental assessment is conducted by the University’s Historic Review to reveal any potential for environmental concerns with its prior usage. An asbestos survey and review of other construction factors that would impact the sustainable nature of the property is also conducted. In those cases where the property structures are demolished, any necessary abatement of hazardous materials as well as the recycling of those products is also determined. The final product is a site restored to an appealing and aesthetically improved landscaped area.