Prompted by an enrollment increase, the University of Texas System has requested $1.397 billion for new buildings and renovations from the state legislature.

The majority of the requested funds will support the construction and renovation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics buildings and programs on UT campuses across the state.

“New classrooms and laboratories to provide the technologically sophisticated education demanded by today’s employers is critical to the continued growth and expansion of the Texas economy,” said UT System Dr. Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa.

Funding new facilities to support the blooming UTSA student population is a key focus of UTSA President Ricardo Romo’s initiative for university advancement. In a university address last January, President Romo stated that the university would ask “the Legislature to approve revenue bonds to provide a much-needed $92 million experimental science instructional building,” as well as renovate the Peter T. Flawn Building for adaptive reuse.

The proposal for the instructional science and engineering building will be submitted to the Texas Legislature for Tuition Revenue Bond (TRB) funding. The proposed 175,000 square-foot addition to the UTSA landscape would house STEM research labs, teaching labs and classrooms.