University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell announced in October that the iconic, nearly-century-old, UT tower would undergo a major restoration project this year.
“The University of Texas at Austin opened with eight professors and 221 students on the grounds where the UT tower stands today in 1883,” said Hartzell, in an email announcement. “While much has changed, the tower, since its construction in 1937, has stood as a symbol of our history, culture, and bold vision for our University.”
Hartzell emphasized the lack of attention the tower has gotten since the University’s opening, despite it being defined as a symbol of UT’s history and culture.
Whispers of the renovation have floated around the University since last year, but the project was not officially confirmed till one month before construction was expected to begin. Beginning in November, the renovation is predicted to last through the summer of 2027.
In the announcement, Hartzell mentioned that scaffolding will cover the tower and that parking will be affected. While the building will remain in operation and UT traditions like illuminating the tower burnt orange for various university accomplishments will remain in place, students still have concerns over other UT traditions.
“I’m a tour guide – the final stop of the tours we always stop there,” said Debora Aguilar, sophomore UT tour guide. “We point it out and talk about the tower, because it’s the staple point of UT. And then we kind of use that as our pivot point to go into why we chose UT.”
Aside from campus tours, the renovation will impact the classic tower graduation photos – a keepsake the classes of 2026 and 2027 might not get to have.
Speech, language and hearing sciences juniors Darian McMillen and Katelyn Alcott say they feel confused and angry. Forced to decide whether or not to take graduation photos a year in advance, McMillen and Alcott both heard about the restoration through the grapevine, and didn’t expect it to happen.
Though McMillen plans to take pictures this year, she worries she simply won’t look the same when she actually graduates. Alcott, on the other hand, said she’s refusing to alter her schedule in order to cater to the restoration’s timeline.
“On a personal level, I don’t want to take pictures right now,” Alcott said.
McMillen and Alcott both believe the restoration could have been done differently, without impacting the students who make UT what it is. Alcott said the University could’ve announced the renovation as a project that will begin once all current students graduate. Then, new students post-2028 could be informed of the campus changes prior to their enrollment.
“I feel like they don’t listen to students, because if they ask the students about this, they would have known,” McMillen said.
Jenna Allevato, a speech, language and hearing sciences freshman, will graduate after the construction is complete. While her graduation photos will likely not be impacted by the restoration of the tower, the entirety of her experience at UT will be accessorized with scaffolding and construction noises.
“I was kind of surprised because I feel like they should have put signs or something around the tower, saying, ‘Hey, it’s being renovated soon,’” Allevato said.
The tower has always been a staple symbol and beloved landmark at UT. Psychology senior Cassie Bullough shared how much the tower impacted her decision to choose UT in the first place.
“When I toured (UT) … we stayed at the AT&T hotel on campus and we got a tower view, and that’s what really sold me on UT,” Bullough said. “Seeing the tower lit up at night I thought, ‘Wow, I really want to go here.’”
Speech, language, and hearing sciences senior Tara Klein said she empathizes with UT’s younger students and said she’s grateful she’s gotten to experience the tower for the last four years.
“It (will) be sad for them to not be able to see the tower in all its glory,” Klein said.
