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Posted: 8/26/19

TAMIU Dedicates Academic Innovation Center, Newest Campus Building

 

TAMIU 50th Anniversary Brand
 

The newest addition to the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) campus was dedicated in ceremonies Monday morning, Aug. 26, 2019 at 10:30.

Representatives from The Texas A&M University System, including Chancellor John Sharp and Board Chairman Elaine Mendoza of the governing Board of Regents, joined local dignitaries and TAMIU faculty, staff and students to herald the opening of the new Academic Innovation Center (AIC).

After brief ceremonies and a reception, a special unveiling of the 50thAnniversary commissioned art painting by renowned Los Dos Laredos’ artist Arturo Nochebuena González, was held.  TAMIU students shared building tours for guests.

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the AIC is truly an inspiring space that provides an ideal environment for innovative teaching and creative research.

"It’s a remarkable structure that truly advances how we define learning at TAMIU.  Technology is integrated throughout the entire building with teaching walls, while the classroom architecture itself is flexible to encourage collaboration. 

A two-story glass-enclosed Design Lab enables project creation and completion in an open environment. With 21 educational labs and classrooms in addition to faculty and staff offices, the AIC will be home to a broad spectrum of programs, with special emphasis on engineering and the sciences,” Dr. Arenaz said. 

The building’s architecture celebrates the campus’ past and embraces its future. It also pays homage to Laredo and the international border with a sweeping terrazzo floor treatment that spans first and second floors, evoking the flow of the Rio Grande through Los Dos Laredos.

“It’s a great way to inaugurate our 50thAnniversary year,” Arenaz noted, “and you’ll see that the architecture captures that with stunning innovation.  The building’s west side brings in elements of the original campus with hip-roofs, limestone accents and finishes such as marble and cherry wood.  The east end boldly embraces the future with a flat, modern roof and technology-rich classrooms.”

Arenaz said that one of his favorite features is the abundant use of glass throughout the building.

“The building itself is three stories tall and almost 500 feet long and has the most glass of any building on campus, ensuring that 90% of the total AIC space is bathed in natural light, which creates an expansive sense of openness throughout the building,” he observed.

The AIC’s Construction began in 2016 and was funded by Tuition Revenue Bonds passed by the 84thLegislature. Architects were EYP Architecture & Engineering and O’Connell Robertson. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors oversaw the construction.

Throughout 2019-2020, TAMIU is celebrating its 50thanniversary and its 25thanniversary at its north Laredo campus.  A dedicated website shares the University’s transformation from a hybrid upper-level university to a full doctoral degree-granting University. The website traces the University’s history, shares its impact in personal stories and includes a calendar of Anniversary events and more at tamiu.edu/50.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

Visit us on Facebook to view our full gallery of photos from the Academic Innovation Center Dedication Ceremony.

Academic Innovation Center Dedication Ceremony

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