Austin Community College District (ACC) Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart provided an update on the College’s 2022 Bond projects during the December Employee Town Hall meeting.
These projects are now moving forward.
Round Rock Campus
ACC held a groundbreaking ceremony in November to kick off construction of the first 2022 Bond Project. The skilled trades expansion project at the Round Rock Campus includes adding two cutting-edge buildings as part of its initial phase. The second phase will focus on expanding health science programs and other high-demand fields. Work is also underway to improve the Student Affairs suite on campus.
Hays Campus
ACC is moving forward with plans for a new building at Hays Campus. The future Building 5000 will feature dedicated spaces for Health Science programs as well as Student Affairs work. Those projects are currently in the design phase. Learn more here.
Highland Campus
In spring 2025, the College will start conversations on building a new community wellness center in the former Macy’s building at the Highland Campus. ACC is exploring opportunities to partner with community organizations on the center and for subsequent wellness offices. The College expects to present initial thoughts and concepts toward the end of the spring semester.
Southeast Travis County
Plans for a new campus site in Southeast Travis County are underway. The new facility will support many of the College’s skilled trades programs and is also expected to be the permanent home for the Austin Infrastructure Academy. Design is expected to start in spring 2025.
Districtwide Maintenance
In addition to moving forward with those four bond projects this spring, the College also will start to perform maintenance projects to improve existing facilities throughout the District.
“I think you have appropriately called out the leadership, that we have just been unresponsive and, I would say, paralyzed in our ability to improve our existing spaces. I will bring plans back to you throughout the spring semester. Starting in 2025, you’re going to start to see our physical spaces on our other campuses get better,” said Dr. Lowery-Hart during the Town Hall meeting.
He also added that the bond decisions are based on a ZIP code data analysis of where our students live. The College is also conducting an analysis of where our employees live.