New Buildings Scheduled for Completion by College’s 2026 Centennial Celebration
Temple College will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. on May 1 to kick off construction on new buildings that will change the face of the Temple campus.
The $124.9 million bond construction project that voters passed in May 2021 is scheduled to be completed by the College’s 2026 Centennial celebration.
“We are excited to invite everyone to this historic event that will transform and modernize the Temple College campus in Temple,” said Dr. Christy Ponce, Temple College President. “So many people throughout the many communities we serve are connected and benefit from the amazing educational and workforce programs at Temple College. This groundbreaking ceremony is a chance for us to celebrate and thank everyone who contributed along the way. This will be the official construction kick-off and a fantastic way for us to showcase the transformation and champion Temple College as we build for the future.”
The four building projects include:
Temple College Main Building – This four-story, state-of-the-art structure will be the College’s new “front door” and will stand on the current Berry Hall and Instructional Services Center location at the sound end of campus. It will house a welcome center; all student services; a university center with offices and classrooms for university partners to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs; advanced technology-enabled classrooms; a student success center, including writing and math labs for student support; and a large events facility that will hold more than 600 people.
Arts and Workforce Building – A new visual arts and workforce building will be constructed on the northwest corner of campus. Its footprint will extend across the north end of campus, encompassing the current Visual Arts Center site on Fifth Street. It will feature a large art gallery to showcase student and faculty works of art; ample studio space for photography, ceramics, painting and sculpture; classrooms; four high-bay labs for advanced manufacturing; computer labs; skills labs for engineering technology, robotics, corporate training, logistics and more; and a certification center for students with prior work experience to demonstrate skills for college credit and certifications.
Health Sciences Center – A new multi-story health sciences center will be featured on the east side of the campus and help the College expand its numerous health care programs, including nursing and sonography, and create new programs. This new health sciences center will be built in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center to include a standardized patient clinic to help train future medical students.
Campus Service Center – The new campus service center will be constructed on the east side of campus near the current campus police department. It will house the physical plant and the purchasing department and will provide much-needed space to house Temple College vehicles, including buses and the new Temple College mobile learning center.
“At Temple College, we are committed to the people we serve. We are doing everything we can to equip our students for their future, whether it is preparing them for high-paying careers or helping them through the next steps to transfer to a four-year university and continue their education,” Ponce said. “These new state-of-the-art buildings and the space and opportunities they’ll provide for classes and training will help us to better serve our students and community. We’re excited about the journey and the future.”
The groundbreaking ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and will occur in the campus parking lot at the southwest corner of First Street and Avenue U.
ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE
Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College offers more than 75 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree, or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 97 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premiere institutions for healthcare providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.