Expansion underway at LBJ Student Center

Campus Community

Jayme Blaschke | August 15, 2018

Renovations aim to meet the needs of growing population

Major renovations began at the LBJ Student Center (LBJSC) in May as part of a $31 million expansion project that will add more than 22,000 square feet to the building including new spaces for student organizations, events, a multicultural area and a welcome center for alumni and future students.

The center of student life at Texas State, the LBJ Student Center, has long reigned as one of the busiest destinations on the San Marcos Campus. Drawn by the pool tables in George’s on the first floor, the student organizations on the fourth, or the bookstore and food courts in between, thousands of Bobcats pass through the center’s doors.

When the student center first opened in 1998, the university's enrollment topped out at 21,000 students. In the 20 years since then, the student population has nearly doubled in size.

“Probably the most significant shortage is for meeting and event space for student organizations and departments. We have one ballroom, and it’s busy all the time,” says John Rahmann, director of the LBJSC.

Once reconfigurations and additional upgraded finishes are taken into account, more than 50,000 square feet of usable space will be available. The expansion will include a new main entry lobby and an additional ballroom, plus conference rooms, meeting spaces, shared spaces for informal student gatherings, and new study spaces. A new Multicultural Center will open in a high-traffic area on the second floor to address the needs of the university’s increasingly diverse student population.

In addition to offices, an executive conference room and main lobby, the alumni space will also feature a state-of-the-art multipurpose room shared with the welcome center. During the day, it will feature multimedia presentations telling the story of Texas State to newcomers and tour groups. In the evenings, it will be available for dinners, receptions, and other events. 

During construction the goal is to keep all services running and maintain accessibility, Rahmann says; however, the south entrance to the building will be inaccessible during most of the construction. Bobcats will have to enter the facility at the north end across from the LBJ Student Center Parking Garage.

The renovations are expected to continue through the spring of 2020.