“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with UTEP,” said Joseph Riccillo, Vice President and El Paso Regional Director for Sundt’s Building Group. “As a UTEP alumnus, it’s exciting to see the campus grow to reflect the education and research it’s already providing to El Paso’s community.”
At approximately 125,000 gross square feet, the learning complex will include a five-story east wing and three-story west wing that are connected by a three-story collaboration space. The building will be located directly southeast of UTEP’s current Liberal Arts Building, which will be demolished when the new project is complete.
“UT El Paso continues to drive El Paso and the Paso del Norte region forward with increased enrollment and expanding contributions in critical industries that are relevant to this unique city, region, and its people,” UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said. “We are grateful to the UT System Board of Regents and Texas lawmakers for funding this new, state-of-the-art learning facility which will support collaborative learning opportunities for generations to come.”
The new facility will provide a 21st century learning environment, equipped with instructional classrooms, computer rooms, collaboration spaces, and offices. Classroom sizes will vary to accommodate various teaching methodologies, and each space will be enhanced with flexible technology and furniture.
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The exterior of the building will reflect the Bhutanese architectural style that is distinct on the UTEP campus, and sustainable landscaping will incorporate native Chihuahuan Desert plants.
Texas Western Hall was named in recognition of the university’s history and expansion beyond mining education and degree programs. Founded as the School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1913, UTEP was renamed Texas Western College in 1948 to broaden the identity of the university and unite engineers, teachers, and liberal arts students under the same banner. The building is expected to open in spring 2026.
During the past decade, Sundt has completed billions of dollars worth of construction in the El Paso region. The company recently completed the I-10 Connect project, making the final adjustments for smoother traffic flow between the TxDOT El Paso loop systems. Its GO 10 collector-distributor lanes project, completed in 2019, has been awarded numerous awards, including the Build America Award, honoring the construction industry’s most impressive construction projects. The company has offices in El Paso, Dallas, and San Antonio and over $3 billion of past work throughout Texas.
Sundt Construction, Inc. is one of the country’s largest general contractors. The 133-year-old firm specializes in transportation, industrial, building, concrete, and renewable power work and is owned entirely by its approximately 2,500-plus employees. Sundt has 13 offices throughout California, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Florida.
