The 62nd Texas Legislature approved a bill in 1971 to create Tyler State College (TSC), a two year upper division institution serving the 14-county East Texas Planning Region. With classes provisionally located in the former Roberts Junior High building on Bertha Street, the TSC Board of Regents established a three member Site Planning Committee to evaluate future campus locations. After reviewing ten sites submitted by members of the community, the Board of Regents selected a 204 acre plot of land donated by Tyler philanthropists James S. Hudnall, George W. Pirtle, and Isadore Roosth. Architect Caudill Rowlett Scott was hired to design the original campus layout for TSC. Phase I of construction (1974-1977) included the Physical Plant complex (PHY), the Sciences and Mathematics building (currently Hudnall-Pirtle-Roosth or HPR), the Biology, Education and Psychology Building (BEP), the Student Center (currently the University Center or UC), the Administration Building (the James H. Stewart Administration Building or ADM), and the Physical and Health Education building (PHE). TSC became Texas Eastern University (TEU) in 1975. Phase II (1977-1980) included original construction on the Business Building (BUS), a greenhouse, and the Robert R. Muntz Library as well as final additions to the Sciences and Mathematics building. Construction on the upper and lower levels of Mike Harvey Lake began in 1977. In 1979, TEU joined the University of Texas System as the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler). The campus at 3900 University Boulevard has seen several additions, expansions, and renovations since 1980. The Summers Tennis Center was dedicated on Tuesday, September 30, 1986. The Fine Art Complex (ARC), originally constructed in fall 1992, was expanded to 29,000 square feet in 2009. The University Pines Apartments (UPA) were constructed near the campus with private funding in 1993. The University hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the $22 million R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center (FAC) in 1995. Construction continued on the Cowan Center through 1997. The Ralph and Mary John Spence Fountain and Plaza was dedicated in 2000. The A.W. and B.J. Riter Millennium Carillon Tower and Plaza was completed in 2001. Officials broke ground for the 37,000 square foot David G. and Jacqueline M. Braithwaite Building (BRB) in August 2002. The building opened for classes in fall 2003. The University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Health and Kinesiology Physical Education Complex, also known as the Patriot Center, on March 25, 2002. In April 2003, the 127,312 square foot facility was formally dedicated as the Louise Herrington Patriot Center (HPC). Construction began on the 158,000 square foot Bill Ratliff Engineering and Science Complex and an adjacent power plant (PPN/PPS) in early 2004. Ratliff Building South (RBS) opened for classes in fall 2006 and the Ratliff Building North (RBN) opened in 2008. The Patriot Village student apartments (PVL) opened in 2004. The University of Texas Health Clinic (UHC), a collaboration between UT Tyler and UT Health Northeast, opened in 2004; the Health Clinic underwent renovations in 2005 and 2013. The $12 million Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Z. Ornelas Residence Hall, a five-story student housing facility, opened to student residents in fall 2006. The UT Tyler Ballpark (BPK), Bob and Mary Irwin Baseball Field, and the Citizens First Bank Perkins Soccer Complex were dedicated in 2006. 700 new stadium seats were added to Irwin Field in summer 2009. The Muntz Library Garden opened for student use in 2009. A $15 million three-story University Center addition was completed in fall 2008. Renovation continued on the existing University Center facilities from fall 2008 through Fall 2010. In August 2010, Nouveau Construction began renovating the second floor of the Administration Building to provide a single center for student business services and enrollment management. In addition to its central campus in Tyler, UT Tyler maintains regional campuses in Longview, Texas and Palestine, Texas. UT Tyler established its Palestine program in 1995, borrowing classroom space from Trinity Valley Community College. In fall 1996, UT Tyler expanded to a new campus at 1820 West Spring Street. Construction of an $8 million addition was completed in fall 2010. The UT Tyler Longview University Center (LUC) opened in 2000. Additional renovations and construction projects have taken place since 2010, but they are not addressed in the scope of this collection. These include an expansion to the Braithwaite Nursing Building, an expansion to the HEP/BPR complex, and purchase of the Ornelas Activity Center (OAC). The university also maintains several modular buildings and auxiliary buildings near campus. Note written by Samantha Winn.
