Trustees Approve $100 Million Campus Master Plan

BELTON, Texas — A new campus master plan approved by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Board of Trustees will lead to construction of $100 million in new facilities in the next three to seven years.
 

The plan details new construction, as well as strategic renovations, to “create effective academic centers, expanded residential areas, and centralized activity zones for students,” according to a university statement.
 

The project includes the construction of a 70,000-square-foot building to serve as home to the flagship nursing program, a student union building with more than 100,000 square feet for residential and retail dining, a banquet hall, a modern bookstore, student organization rooms and social spaces for student interaction and learning.
 

Also planned are a center for the visual arts with classrooms, faculty offices, studios, and gallery space, an on-campus football stadium with seating for 8,000 to 10,000 spectators and a 500-to-600-seat performance hall designed for musical and theatrical productions.

The new master plan is the result of significant growth in student population over the last 30 years, as well as forecasts that the demand for Christian higher education at the school will continue to grow, the statement said.
 

In addition to the major building construction, parking lots will be relocated to the periphery of the campus.
 

“There has been a growing sense of momentum at UMHB,” said Gordon Wiggers, chair of the Board of Trustees. “The trustees have weighed the emerging needs of the university and prayed for wisdom as we have looked at ways to meet those needs. We are confident that this plan is the course we should take as we look forward to an even brighter future for the university,” he said.
 

Currently, several teams have already been appointed to formulate plans for the major facilities, and the process of drawing up architectural and engineering plans will begin immediately.
 

The $100 million project is the largest capital investment in the history of the university. The school’s trustees have recommended that the plan be underwritten through a combination of gifts and grants, debt, and funds already set aside for campus improvements.

Specific locations and plans for new buildings will be unveiled as the plans move forward.
 

“Our vision is for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to be the university of choice for Christian higher education in the Southwest,” said President Randy O’Rear. “It is a bold vision, but as the word continues to spread about the outstanding academic programs at UMHB and our highly dedicated faculty and staff who are devoted to each individual student’s success, we believe it is a destination within our reach. State-of-the-art learning facilities and an exciting campus environment that encourages students’ growth in all facets of their lives will be critical to the achievement of this vision.”