UTA Celebrates $125 Million Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building

By UT Arlington University Communications

Posted on September 28, 2018, September 28, 2018

The University of Texas at Arlington inaugurated today its new $125 million Science & Engineering Innovation & Research building, a state-of-the-art facility that will contribute to pushing the University forward as a leading health science research and teaching institution.

Almost $30 million in active research grants move with UTA's faculty into the new facility, which will focus on interdisciplinary research around major health science challenges, such as brain health, cancer, cardiovascular health, healthy aging and rehabilitative medicine.

"We want to thank our champions in the legislature, the Board of Regents, the University of Texas System leadership and the campus community for believing in our vision," said UTA President Vistasp Karbhari. "SEIR is the embodiment of our health science focus, bringing together research neighborhoods, collaborative spaces, teaching facilities and areas where faculty, staff and students can engage with one another as well as experts from the community, the corporate world and non-profit sectors."

The SEIR building also incorporates a novel "science-on-display" concept with glass interior walls that allow everyone who walks through the building to be part of the discovery process.

"The building itself is a space that will catalyze and accelerate our teaching and research efforts," said Duane Dimos, UTA's vice president for research. "As an urban-serving Carnegie R-1 research university, we needed a space that could act as the focus for an innovation ecosystem to drive our regional economy and strengthen North Texas as a center for biotechnology and health science research."

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams commented that SEIR is a critical contribution to the City of Arlington and the region.

"I have watched this building go up from the day of groundbreaking and I am hugely impressed with the final result," Williams said. "SEIR will make a big difference to students and faculty, but also to the Arlington community at large. I foresee great solutions coming out of SEIR, for medical discoveries, drug development and new ways to treat health issues like cancer."

State representatives Tony Tinderholt and Chris Turner also participated in the inaugural event.