University Unveils New Alumni Center, Housing, Adds Dining Options - News Center

Text size: campus

Aug. 17, 2017 This fall semester, The University of Texas at Dallas will debut new facilities, including two apartment complexes and an alumni center, and expand its dining options that will further enhance the campus environment. “It is exciting to see the growth and change that has occurred on our campus over the past decade, and even just in the past year,” said Dr. Calvin Jamison, vice president for administration. “As we continue to evolve into a 24/7 campus environment, the need for more amenities and services has increased, and our service-oriented team has responded.” New Housing, Buildings Canyon Creek Heights North and South, two fully furnished, apartment-style complexes at the intersection of Waterview Parkway and Tatum Street/Loop Road Southwest, will add a total of 800 new beds to campus this fall. Canyon Creek Heights South includes a mix of efficiency, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as an open multipurpose space, a common laundry facility, office space for support staff, an outdoor recreation facility, secured bike storage and parking for 150 resident vehicles. Canyon Creek Heights North features one-, two- and four-bedroom configurations with internal corridors, an open multipurpose space, offices for support staff, laundry facilities, bike racks and outdoor recreation areas. The Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center will also open this fall. The building, the first campus facility solely designated for special use, will offer the University’s more than 100,000 alumni a place where they can connect with one another and the campus. It is designed to accommodate rentals for meetings, conferences, weddings and other events. An official opening celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 7. Brain Performance Institute" src="http://www.utdallas.edu/news/imgs/photos-2017-08/BPI-740-2017-08.jpg" />The Brain Performance Institute, part of the Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, will officially open in October.Construction of the new Brain Performance Institute in Dallas has been completed, and will officially open in October. The institute, part of the University’s Center for BrainHealth, delivers science-based innovations that enhance how individuals think, work and live. The new building will bring together the latest research and training techniques designed to improve cognitive skills and health. In the Synergy Park North building, the University has leased more space to house the Office of Budget and Finance, a larger student testing center, the University’s aviation archives and a Visual Arts gallery. The new gallery, in Synergy Park North 2, will open at the start of the semester. Other areas of the building will open later this fall. Visual Arts instructional and 3-D art spaces will be at Research and Operations Center West. Also, the Classroom Building and the west wing of the Administration Building have added new classroom space. On the south side of campus near Lot U, a new cricket field has been finished. Meanwhile, progress continues on the 200,000-square-foot Engineering Building, scheduled to be completed by the start of fall 2018. The building, which will primarily house the Mechanical Engineering Department, will feature classrooms, research and teaching labs, faculty offices, student workspaces and a 300-seat auditorium that will be named in honor of Dr. Alexander Clark. It also will include a retail food grab-and-go location, a third-floor student lounge with a balcony and a landscaped courtyard. During construction, some pedestrian paths will be closed, including the sidewalk on the west side of Rutford Avenue and the north side of Franklyn Jenifer Drive. Look for pedestrian detour signage in the area. North of campus, developers are continuing construction on the second phase of Northside. North of the existing complex, the new phase will include 900 apartment beds and 6,600 square feet of retail space. Also, two new pubs, American Taproom and Northside Drafthouse and Eatery, are expected to open in the existing complex. Dining Several new dining options and services are expected this fall — from flexible meal plans and new venues to mobile ordering and pizza delivery. “This semester, we have focused on adding more convenience to on-campus dining,” said Carrie Chutes Charley, director of food and retail services for UT Dallas. “Many of our new offerings originated from student ideas and feedback, which helps us enhance and customize our services to our campus’ specific needs.”Spirit FridaysSpirit Fridays will continue at Dining Hall West. Lunch is $5 plus tax for those who wear green, orange or UT Dallas clothing. Complimentary shuttle service to and from Dining Hall West will run from Lot R and the Activity Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday throughout the semester.Fall dining hours begin Monday. For more information, visit the UT Dallas Dining Services website, and follow dining updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New student Meal Memberships offer more versatility for on-campus dining with Dining Hall West meals, Meal Exchanges and Meal Money bundled into discounted block plans. The memberships are available in a variety of combinations, so students can choose the best option for them. Students, faculty and staff also will be able order Papa John’s and Jason’s Deli for pickup at the on-campus location from their mobile devices using the GET platform via the ShopUTD app (available on Apple and Android). Orders can be paid for with a credit card or Comet Cash. In addition, student residents in University Commons can order Papa John’s for delivery between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday-Friday. Students can call 972-883-7470 or order with the GET platform and pay with a credit card, Meal Money or Comet Cash. In the Student Union, construction has begun on a 3,800-square-foot Starbucks, which will offer a full menu and have an additional exterior entrance to allow it to stay open late. Work is expected to be completed in late fall. Diners will notice a new option in the Comet Café called Za’tar, expected to open at the start of the semester. Za’tar features a variety of Mediterranean, vegetarian and halal meal choices, and will offer specials such as Meze Platter and a vegetarian Gyro. A full list of fall dining specials is available online. Dining Hall West will offer several new menu items with the addition of a new vertical broiler, a rotisserie and a smoker to its kitchen. It also will launch Comet Cakes, an on-campus bakery service that offers custom cakes, cake pops and mini-cakes for order and pickup. Food Truck Park will add four new trucks to its rotation Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The food trucks accept only cash, credit or debit cards for payment. Media Contact: Chase York, UT Dallas, (972) 883- 4927, [email protected]
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected]