UTRGV opens Phase 1 of Brownsville Visual Arts Complex

Art students in Brownsville will begin the fall semester in the first phase of UTRGV’s new Visual Arts Complex, with most instructional spaces set to open for classes Aug. 26.

Jeffrey Ward, dean for the College of Fine Arts, said the first phase contains nearly all of the instructional spaces needed for the fall semester.

“We will move in on schedule at the end of next week before classes start on the 26th,” Ward said.

The move comes as the school prepares to leave Rustenburg Hall, where art courses have previously been housed through a lease with Texas Southmost College that ends Aug.31.

According to him, university movers are scheduled to transfer equipment from Rustenberg Hall from Aug. 19 through 21, with faculty able to begin moving personal belongings into the new complex Aug. 21.

Ward said the school plans to have all of its equipment removed from Rustenberg by Aug. 31.

“We’ve been fairly limited in what we could do in Brownsville just because of the facilities,” he said. 

Ward said Phase 2 is tentatively scheduled for completion in late December, allowing the school to move into the additional spaces before the spring semester begins.

The phase will include permanent spaces for printmaking and jewelry making, along with an exhibition gallery and design spaces. Other portions of the project, including faculty offices and an administration building, have later timelines.

The dean described the complex as a “game changer” for students and faculty in Brownsville and said the additional facilities could create opportunities for the school to increase its outreach to the surrounding community.

For students such as Mia Nuez, a visual communications design senior, the approaching move has brought both optimism and uncertainty.

“I don’t really have a lot of confidence in applying to classes or registering for classes that are over there in Brownsville,” Nunez said. “So I’ve been limited to either doing hybrid or remote or in person only here in Edinburg and their visual arts building.”

Despite those concerns, Nunez said seeing construction move forward has restored some of her confidence in the project.

“Seeing that we’ve already laid groundwork, we’re doing the construction, it does put some confidence back into the faculty,” Nunez said. “I just hope they can really keep up the confidence and keep up with the timeline.”

Ed Pogue, a professor in the School of Art and Design, said faculty are preparing to begin the semester in the complex but will need to remain flexible as the move and construction continue.

“It’s one city block long with several buildings,  you can imagine the issues that might arise,” Pogue said. “Sometimes there’s unforeseen issues, and so it’s been delayed somewhat.”

The larger question, he said, is not whether classes will begin at the complex but how much equipment will be ready when students arrive Aug. 26.

“It’s not that we won’t be able to move in,” Pogue said. “It’s what we’ll have together when we move in.”

During the first week or two, some courses may begin with tables and chairs while equipment continues to be installed. Pogue said professors could use presentations, drawings and other assignments to get the semester underway.

“I kind of think we’ll be there, but we’ll just kind of have to adapt and play it by ear,” he said.

Construction will continue around portions of the complex after classes begin. Pogue said unfinished areas will be fenced off, but students may still encounter construction noise, trucks and equipment.

“It is still going to be an active construction zone, so students are going to have to realize that,” he said.

Despite the temporary disruptions, Pogue said the additional equipment, larger facilities and increased parking will ultimately benefit students.

“We just have to be flexible,” he said. “You may be in the lab and you may be working your assignment, and there may be a beep, beep, beep, beep with some piece of equipment coming on the other side of your building.”

The new Visual Arts Complex will be located at the former Longoria Elementary School site at 2400 E. Van Buren St., Brownsville, TX 78520, approximately half a mile from the Brownville campus.