102-1347 Engineering Discovery Building

Temporary Road Closure

There will be a temporary road closure on 24th Street in front of the Engineering Discovery Building site from March 8 to April 29, 2024. 

The temporary road closure occurred because workers were rerouting a water line along 24th Street in front of the Engineering Discovery Building site.

• Travel Impacts: 24th Street will be closed in front of the Engineering Discovery Building site, between San Jacinto Boulevard and the fire lane on the east side of the Gary L. Thomas Energy Engineering Building.
   
• Pedestrian Impacts: Pedestrians will have a slight detour around the construction area.
   
• Bicycle Impacts: Bike access will be closed.

Signage for vehicles and pedestrians will be installed at key locations to assist with wayfinding.

Project Summary

This project involves designing and constructing a new approximately 212,205 GSF Engineering Discovery Building (EDB) for critically needed research, teaching, and collaboration space for the Cockrell School of Engineering. Upon completion, it will be replaced by the existing and aging Chemical & Petroleum Engineering (CPE) building.

Project Location: This project is located on the site of the existing Services Building (SER), which will be vacated and demolished. Current departments housed in the SER will relocate to the expanded Facilities Complex Building 4 (FC4) building. The new EDB will be adjacent to the Engineering Education and Research Building (EER) and the Gary L. Thomas Energy Engineering Building (GLT). 

Major Anticipated Outcomes/Benefits of Completed Project: The EDB will support research for two departments; the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. Incorporating flexible and reconfigurable research labs, integrated teaching labs and classrooms, and collaborative areas for students and faculty, this project will further support student and faculty recruitment, development and retention.

Project Impacts

Pedestrian Impacts:  Pedestrian pathways will be rerouted during construction. 

• The west side of the San Jacinto sidewalk between Dean Keeton and 24^th street will be closed to all pedestrian traffic through July 2026. 
• The north side of the 24^th street sidewalk from San Jacinto to the GLT Building will be closed to all pedestrian traffic through July 2026.
• The building entrances along the west side of the EER and ECJ buildings cannot be accessed from San Jacinto Street during construction.
• Campus affiliates traveling to the engineering buildings from San Jacinto Street, or the San Jacinto Garage are advised to access the area from Dean Keeton, the south side of the 24^th street sidewalk, or Speedway. 

Travel Impacts:  24th Street will be rerouted to allow removal of parking spaces.

Bicycle Impacts:  Bicyclists are encouraged to refer to the City of Austin Bike Map.

Parking Impacts:  Parking and Transportation Services will remove all of the parking spaces in front of the old SER building. 

Signage will be installed at key locations to assist with wayfinding. Due to the fluid nature of construction, this information is subject to change, but we will do our best to provide timely communication if changes are necessary.

Contact

For any questions about this project, please contact Campus Construction at construction@utexas.edu.