A New Home for Computer Science
Later today I’ll be wielding a shovel at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex at UT.
It’s an important day for one of our strongest programs—Computer Science. But it’s also a milestone for me and for everyone who’s worked during the past several years to create a new home for this nationally recognized department. In the past, our computer science students and faculty were scattered across the campus in seven different buildings. Not only will the Gates Complex bring them together in one location, it will foster closer relationships between undergraduate teaching and faculty research, as well as create more opportunities for faculty collaboration.
Our Computer Science program graduates about 200 computer scientists a year and is ranked 8th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Among science and technology sectors, computer science is the fastest growing job market. UT produces about 20% of all computer science graduates in Texas.
The Gates Complex will consist of two buildings, including the Dell Computer Science Hall. Sixty faculty offices, space for 350 graduate students, nearly 20 classrooms and seminar rooms, a lecture hall, and lab space for 10 major research clusters will be housed in the complex. The project was made possible by generous gifts from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation with support from the Permanent University Fund and institutional funds. It’s not too late to contribute.
The Computer Science department is sponsoring a street fair on the Speedway Pedestrian Mall at 3:00 p.m. followed by the groundbreaking at 5:20. It’s a big day for Computer Science—and for the future of this important sector of the Texas economy.
