The Union Building (also known the Texas Union Building or Student Union Building)
is a building on the
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,07 ...
campus, serving as a "college independent community center" or "living room" for students.
Designed by
Paul Cret
Paul Philippe Cret (October 23, 1876 – September 8, 1945) was a French-born Philadelphia architect and industrial designer. For more than thirty years, he taught at a design studio in the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylv ...
, who also designed the Tower and
Main Building, Goldsmith Hall and
Texas Memorial Museum
The Texas Memorial Museum, located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas, USA, was created during preparations for the Texas Centennial Exposition held in 1936. The museum's focus is on natural history, including pal ...
on the same campus, the Union was built in 1933 with funds provided by
Texas Exes in a campaign led by
Thomas Watt Gregory.
[
Once constructed, the Union was one of four buildings on campus intended for recreation and entertainment, the other three being Gregory Gymnasium for Men, the Women's Gymnasium and Hogg Memorial Auditorium.]
History
In March 1930, Paul Cret was contracted to become the consulting architect for the University of Texas, followed by a second contact in June 1931 to design ten new buildings.
Construction
The Union Building was constructed from smooth limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
and ashlar fossiliferous limestone.Battle Hall
Battle Hall, also known as the "Cass Gilbert Building" and "The Old Library," is a historic library on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. It is one of four buildings on campus that have been added to the National Reg ...
, another building Cret designed for the campus.
Cactus Café
The Cactus CaféUT web site for Cactus Café and Bar
/ref> is a music venue and gathering place for students located in the Union Building, originally known as the Chuck Wagon when it opened in 1933.[ Concerned supporters formed the non-profit organization Friends of the Cactus Café with the purpose of raising funds to preserve the historic venue.][ An arrangement was eventually made to keep the venue open under the auspices and management of ]PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
radio station KUT.[
]
See also
* History of The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin was originally conceived in 1827 under an article in the Constitución de Coahuila y Texas to open a public university in the state of Texas. The Constitution of 1876 also called for the creation of a "university ...
* List of University of Texas at Austin buildings
This list of University of Texas at Austin buildings catalogs the currently existing structures on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. Buildings are categorized based on their current functions and characteristics.
...
References
;Works cited
*
External links
*
{{coord, 30.2867, -97.7411, type:landmark_region:US-TX, display=title
1933 establishments in Texas
University and college buildings completed in 1933
University of Texas at Austin campus