New arts building: what’s next?

Construction and destruction plans are underway for the Brownsville Visual Arts Complex, which university officials describe as a “state-of-the-art” facility for students and faculty. 

The total cost for the project is $39 million and includes building cost, site development and project management.

Dean of the College of Fine Arts Jeffrey Ward said demolition will be the first part to begin construction of the building.

“Some things that will be taken out, such as the covered walkways that are there, the current structures,” Ward said. “We’ll do some removal of the roofs because they’ll be putting new roofs on.”

He said the architects and construction managers are constantly aware of ensuring the efficiency of construction.

“[To] prevent the elements from coming … they’ll time all of the removal of the roofs and those kinds of things in such a way that it’ll account for potential bad weather,” Ward said. 

The dean said it is important to ensure quality for the students and faculty while also providing a safe work environment.

“We will meet all current building codes for safety, for ventilation, for HVAC,” he said. “And so, when our students are in the space, it will be a state-of-the-art space designed for art.”

Rusteberg Hall was not created for the arts, according to Ward.

“It wasn’t designed for that use, so trying to create something that wasn’t built [for the] purpose of that will not be the case [for the new building],” he said. “[The Visual Arts Complex] is going to be renovated for purpose.”

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said a first-class education is not possible in a second- or third-class facility.

“Part of your learning is the environment you’re in, especially if you’re in arts and visual arts,” Bailey said. “[The complex] will significantly enhance the learning environment.”

Ward said after completion of the building, phase one will be moving all courses offered in Rusteberg into the complex to begin classes as soon as possible. 

“The additional phases will be tied to adding new programming there that students who are based in Brownsville have asked for, for years and/or have to come to Edinburg to take those courses,” he said. 

The dean said the estimated time of completion for construction is December 2025 to start classes in Spring 2026.

“That would be amazing, but that is 10 months from now,” he said. “I’ve seen things go up a lot faster and I’ve seen things go up slower. I know that everyone who’s involved wants to see us meet that timeline, but … that’ll be out of our control.”

Bailey said the construction of the new building is “a remarkable opportunity” for the university.

“It’s good for the school district that we’re able to take an elementary school that is being shut down,” he said. “And we can convert that into a really first-class, fine-arts-and-visual-arts center.”

Ward said he was “excited” to hear the University of Texas System Board of Regents’ approval of the project.

“When I showed those pictures of the renderings to students, it’s starting to feel like this is a real thing and I’m so excited for that day when we see the first students walk into their new studios and see great work being done,” he said.