Alba Cantu UPDATE:
The UT System board of regents authorized the purchase of two buildings in Downtown Brownsville earlier today, which will be used for future campus expansion.
According to the agenda item, the acquisition of the buildings will reduce the university’s reliance on leased space to accommodate its core academic mission in Brownsville.
ORIGINAL STORY:
UTRGV – The UT System board of regents will vote Thursday on the purchase of a new building that would be used as a performing arts center for UTRGV in Downtown Brownsville.
With an estimate of $47 million in renovations, the agenda item states that if approved, the former Majestic Theater and adjacent JCPenney building in Brownsville would initially be used for educational purposes.
Jeffrey Ward, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said the purchase will allow UTRGV to offer more dance and music performances, which are held at the TSC Performing Arts Complex in Brownsville. Ward also said there are talks with the UTRGV Theater Department to bring performances should the building be purchased.
“Additionally, from a curriculum standpoint, it will allow us to offer some student opportunities and student courses in theater and dance that currently we don’t have facilities for,” he said.
The agenda item reads that although the property does not have dedicated parking, UTRGV intends to provide shuttle services from the Brownsville campus for students, faculty and staff.
Ward added the vote and potential purchase will only be regarding performing arts, but there are future board discussions for a new building on campus dedicated to the School of Art Design.
“In regards to the School of Art Design, we are committed to creating a space for them,” the dean said. “We are developing plans to move out of Rusteberg in the future and we’re looking at the feasibility to build a new building on campus that would be solely for the School of Art Design.”
KVAQ-TV will provide updates on voting results this Thursday.
