Friday, September 29, 2023
University leaders, healthcare professionals, elected officials and community partners
broke ground on an innovative, state-of-the-art STEM complex at the University of
North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) today. The ceremony and celebratory shoveling of
dirt marked a milestone for UNT Dallas. The facility will pave the way for a new level
of instruction, research and collaboration.
“When completed, this building will stand as the most consequential addition to the UNT Dallas main campus, bringing with it expanded opportunities for our current and future students to be trained for significant healthcare careers,” said Bob Mong, UNT Dallas president. “For employers, our graduates will help solve urgent healthcare shortages in our community. This is a win for our students, our industry partners and the future of healthcare in North Texas.”
UNT Dallas President Bob Mong, UNT System Chancellor Dr. Michael R. Williams, UNT
Dallas Provost Dr. Betty Stewart, State Sen. Royce West, UNT Dallas student Laura
Herrera and others lift their shovels to break ground on the new STEM building
Coming to fruition after years of planning, the new $100 million, four-story structure will include 18-20 classrooms, nine teaching labs (biology and chemistry), three research labs, and a large event venue. It will also contain multiple study and work areas, faculty and staff offices, a student STEM center, and a Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) space with resources for students interested in going to medical school.
The cutting-edge complex is the next step in UNT Dallas' long-term plan to expand STEM opportunities for students and bolster the pipeline of highly skilled candidates to North Texas employers seeking STEM professionals. Specifically, it will provide a pathway for healthcare careers, including advancement to medical, nursing and pharmacy schools, and other post-graduate educational institutions focused on science, health, medicine and wellness.
Dr. Betty Stewart, UNT Dallas Provost, who is the driving force behind the STEM facility
“This is a tremendous day for UNT Dallas. I’m thankful and grateful,” said Dr. Betty Stewart, UNT Dallas provost, who is the project's driving force and greatest champion. “This STEM building will be transformational to our campus.”
The Texas Workforce Commission says these are “high-demand, high-wage” occupations that are expanding rapidly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says STEM-related healthcare positions pay more than the average American job and STEM careers are projected to grow nearly 11 percent in the next decade.
By collaborating with industry partners and local educational and community institutions, UNT Dallas and the new STEM facility will catalyze investment and development in southern Dallas. Projects are already in the works nearby, including University Hills and Rivulet.
An aerial view rendering of the new UNT Dallas STEM building adjacent to Ryan Tower
UNT Dallas is a Tree Campus USA, recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation. As such, the new STEM building will be green and sustainable, energy efficient and full of windows and natural light to take advantage of the surrounding landscaping, bringing the outside in. An area behind the structure will become a green space for student gatherings, study and quiet reflection.
A hard hat from Vaughn Construction Co. and brand-new shovels awaiting the STEM building
groundbreaking
Two firms, Stantec and Harrison Kornberg, designed the building to reflect the university’s mission and achieve the STEM project’s goals. They include empowering students by providing upward mobility to a diverse community of learners through STEM education; transforming lives through STEM programs that will improve the vitality of students and their families; and creating a sense of place and belonging, which is student-centered, inclusive, welcoming, accessible and flexible.
The building is expected open for the Spring 2026 semester.
From UNT Dallas Campus Update