AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin's iconic Tower is about to get some needed TLC.
UT says the planned restoration work will mark the first meaningful investment in the Tower since it was completed in 1937. The university first announced its plan to spruce up the Tower in 2022, and the Board of Regents approved roughly $70 million for the project back in February of this year.
Now we're learning a little more about the project, titled "Our Tower: The Next 100 Years," which will begin its exterior restoration next month.
"Our Tower was built as a sign of audacity and a young university’s aspirations for excellence. Nearly a century later, we have those same characteristics," UT President Jay Hartzell said. "The Tower represents what is possible for a world-class university that is committed to creating knowledge and teaching tomorrow’s leaders to change the world."
What will the work entail?
UT said the initial work will be a "comprehensive restoration" of the outside of the tower, including its stone, windows, lighting, clockface and the gilding on its façade. Crews will repaint the metal and wood surfaces to their original color, reapply gilding to the clock and cast-iron spandrels, and reconstruct both the east and west entrances.
The exterior lighting will also be updated to an LED-base system, select roofs will be replaced and the windows will be refurbished.
According to UT, the exterior restoration is estimated to last through the summer of 2027. The Tower and Main Building will remain in operation while construction is underway, protected with scaffolding and a decorative covering.
UT said that although the project's timeline calls for scaffolding to begin rising on the north façade of the Main Building in November, the scaffolding construction won't advance to cover the Tower and the south façade of the Main Building until after the 2025 commencement. Additionally, even with the scaffolding, UT will still light the Tower to celebrate academic and athletic accomplishments.
Who's behind this project?
UT has hired the architectural firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects LLC (RAMSA) to lead the project.
The university also said in addition to the Board of Regents' initial investment, funding for this project includes money from the Available University Fund and major gifts from individuals. Additional fundraising continues to "determine the ultimate extent of the restoration and reimagination," with the philanthropic campaign led by Marcie and Bob Zlotnik.