UT Arlington’s main student hangout is about to turn into a full-blown construction zone. The university is gearing up for a roughly $120 million overhaul of the E.H. Hereford University Center this summer, a project that will dramatically reshape the campus hub at the heart of UTA.
The plan calls for demolishing part of the building’s basement to clear the way for a multi-story addition plus major interior upgrades. The university has already started winding things down inside the UC: April 3 was the last day student groups could hold events in the building. Officials say work will begin as early as June, with campus services and student organizations shifting into temporary spaces while construction is underway.
Filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation show UT Arlington plans roughly a 92,000-square-foot addition and about 93,000 square feet of renovation work, with an estimated price tag of about $120 million. Construction is listed as starting June 1 and wrapping up Dec. 31, 2028, according to those filings reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
What UTA Says Will Change
According to The University of Texas at Arlington, the project will overhaul and modernize student lounges, add new meeting and study spaces, create a dedicated resource center and provide more office space for student organizations.
The university’s project page also highlights expanded dining options, improved natural light throughout the building, upgraded meeting-room technology and a slate of sustainability and infrastructure improvements. With the UC offline, UTA has posted a list of alternative venues and reservation guidelines to help student groups and departments relocate their events.
Timeline And Who Pays
The University of Texas System’s capital-improvement documents list the University Center renovation as a CIP project approved in May 2025 and outline construction milestones that target substantial completion in mid-2028, per the system’s FY 2026-31 CIP report. At the same time, campus permit filings cited by the Star-Telegram show a June 1, 2026 site start and a Dec. 31, 2028 projected finish, a split that reflects the staggered approvals and financing steps that large campus projects often have to navigate.
University leaders say the work will be financed through system funds and debt service that is supported in part by a student fee increase approved by campus voters.
Student Fees And Campus Life
Students signed off on that fee hike in a referendum last year to raise the student union fee and help pay for the renovation, a vote reported by The Shorthorn. While the UC is closed, clubs and departments are being directed to spots such as Brazos Park, the Commons and other campus locations, in line with UTA’s event guidance.
Student government and campus groups have been arguing over a UC renovation for years. Campus reporting shows a similar referendum narrowly failed in 2022 before the more recent measure finally passed.
More detailed renderings and construction phasing plans are expected to roll out in the coming months as the project moves through permitting and demolition. UTA says it will keep students and departments updated on relocations and timelines through the Student Centers site. For now, student groups are urged to check the university’s reservations page and plan upcoming events with alternative venues in mind.
