University Junior High School

Last updated

University Junior High School
University junior high school 2012.jpg
USA Texas location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location1925 San Jacinto Blvd.
Austin, Texas
Coordinates 30°16′50″N97°43′57″W / 30.28056°N 97.73250°W / 30.28056; -97.73250 (University Junior High School)
Area1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Built1933 (1933)
Architect George Dahl
Paul Philippe Cret
Architectural style Spanish Revival
NRHP reference No. 01000396 [1]
Added to NRHPApril 19, 2001

University Junior High School (formerly the School of Social Work Building) was a historic Spanish Revival-style structure on the University of Texas at Austin campus in Austin, Texas. Opened in 1933 as a joint project between the university and the Austin Independent School District, the school served both as a public junior high school and as a laboratory school for the university's Department of Education until 1967, when the school was closed and the facility turned over to UT. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Contents

University Junior High later gained historical significance as one of Austin’s first desegregated schools, contributing to the city’s civil rights history. [2]

The building formerly housed the UT Child Development Center, which relocated after breaking ground on a new facility in 2021. [3] [4]

Following the spring of 2024, the Steve Hicks School of Social Work vacated the historic building as part of a relocation plan by the university that cited the aging building’s inadequacies and a partnership with UT Athletics, which pledged $10 million to address systemic homelessness—a commitment later revealed to lack formal agreements or specific plans. [5]

Controversy arose when the university announced plans to demolish the building to construct a new football practice facility, citing modernization needs and proximity to athletic headquarters. [6] The proposal sparked widespread criticism from local preservation advocates, [7] including faculty, [8] alumni, [9] and grassroots coalitions such as "save the past for the fUTure", who argued that the building represents an irreplaceable cultural and historical landmark. [10]

Efforts to save the structure culminated in its designation as a State Antiquities Landmark on July 26, 2024 [11] by the Texas Historical Commission, temporarily adding legal hurdles to demolition plans. [12]

However, the university ultimately obtained a demolition permit in September 2024. [13] Demolition began shortly after the permit was granted, and the site will be transformed into a modern athletic complex with indoor and outdoor practice fields, a sprint track, and parking facilities. [14]

While the university committed to preserving the building’s memory through photography, a documentary, and salvaged architectural elements, critics argued that such measures fell short of meaningful preservation. [15]

The battle to preserve University Junior High School represents a broader struggle over the preservation of Austin’s history amid rapid urban development and raised critical questions about the role of public institutions in safeguarding cultural heritage. It remains emblematic of the challenges faced by historic landmarks in rapidly growing cities.

History

In 1923 petroleum deposits were discovered on lands owned by the University of Texas System. New revenues from mineral royalties helped to fund a flurry of construction and renovation on the University of Texas at Austin's campus between 1925 and 1933. [4] By the end of this period Texas was well into the Great Depression, and the Austin Public Schools program (now the Austin Independent School District) [16] was struggling to provide adequate public education for the city's rapidly growing population with declining tax revenues. The school district's growing need for an additional public secondary school coincided with the university's Department of Education's growing interest in establishing a laboratory school where future teachers could be trained and new educational techniques tested. [4]

In 1932 the city and the university reached an agreement to establish a model secondary school, to be built and furnished by the university but operated by the school district, with the district paying the faculty. [16] The school was initially envisioned as a six-year secondary school that would house grades seven through twelve, to be named "University High School"; in the end, however, the city's changing school-age demographics led the district to operate the campus as a three-year junior high school serving grades seven through nine, and the name was changed to "University Junior High School." Construction on the school began in January 1933 and was completed that September at a total cost of $375,000 (equivalent to $8,830,000in 2023). The first students entered the school on September 26, 1933. [4]

Secondary school

The school was operated by AISD for thirty-four school years, from 1933 through 1967. [4] From 1956 to 1957 the facility also served as a temporary home to Allan Junior High School, whose campus had been badly damaged by a fire in March 1956; both schools operated in the same building, with UJH holding shortened classes in the mornings and Allan meeting in the afternoons. University Junior High was the first public junior high school in Austin to become racially integrated, accepting non-white students beginning with the 1957–58 school year. [17] [4]

University building

After the 1966–67 academic year AISD closed the school, and the university devoted the building first to its School of Music and later to elements of the College of Education and the Division for Continuing Education. In 1991 the university's Child Care Center for university and state employees opened in the former UJH facility, and the School of Social Work moved into the building in 1994; these two programs to occupied the facility referred to as the School of Social Work Building.

In 1995, under the leadership of Dean Barbara White [18] —the first African American dean at the University of Texas—the School of Social Work commissioned distinguished local artist Raúl Valdez to create the mural "Heart & Soul." The artwork, prominently displayed in the building's grand staircase, depicted scenes of social challenges, injustice, resilience, hope, and the pursuit of social justice, serving as a visual embodiment of the school's mission and providing inspiration for generations of social work students, scholars, and visitors. [19]

The former school site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 2001, in recognition of its significance in the development of the university's campus architecture and the history of pedagogical research and teacher education in Texas. [4]

Architecture

The University Junior High School building is a roughly U-shaped reinforced concrete building with a veneer of buff Elgin brick and a hipped tile roof, with two main stories and a partially exposed basement. The school was primarily designed by architect George Dahl (with input from the university's consulting architect, Paul Philippe Cret) in an eclectic Spanish Revival style inspired by existing campus structures. It is located near the southeast corner of the University of Texas campus, south of Texas Memorial Stadium and north of the Texas Swimming Center, which was built over the school's former sports fields. [4]

The main entrance faces west toward Waller Creek and is set into a four-story central massing, flanked to the north by an auditorium (now called the Utopia Theater) and to the south by a former gymnasium (now used for office space). [17] Concrete steps lead up to the main doors on the second level, above which recently added brass lettering labels the build as the "SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK." Above the doors are three symmetrical windows separated by decorative terra cotta panels. At the fourth level three vertical stucco panels bear floral patterns flanking the seal of the university in relief and the incised words "UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL." Above, a corbelled cornice separates the brick siding from the red tile roof. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas at Austin</span> Public university in Austin, Texas, US

The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 51,913 students as of fall 2023, it is also the largest institution in the system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas System</span> Public university system in Texas

The University of Texas System is a public university system in the U.S. state of Texas. It includes nine universities and five independent health institutions. The UT System is headquartered in Downtown Austin. It is the largest university system in Texas with 250,000+ enrolled students, 21,000+ employed faculty, 83,000+ health care professionals, researchers and support staff. The UT System's $42.7 billion endowment is the largest of any public university system in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Erwin Center</span> Arena in Texas, United States

The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center was a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. It was also sometimes referred to as "The Drum" or "The Superdrum", owing to its round, drum-like appearance from outside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas at Arlington</span> Public university in Arlington, Texas, US

The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university in Arlington, Texas, United States. The university was founded in 1895 and was in the Texas A&M University System for several decades until joining the University of Texas System in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen F. Austin High School (Austin, Texas)</span> Public high school in Austin, Texas

Stephen F. Austin High School, more commonly known as Austin High, is a public high school in Austin, Texas, United States, and part of the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Founded in 1881, it is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Mississippi River, and was one of the first public high schools in the state of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Gymnasium</span>

Gregory Gymnasium is the 4,000-seat current home of the University of Texas Longhorn women's volleyball team, and former home of the Longhorn basketball and swimming teams. The basketball teams moved out in 1977 to the Erwin Center. It also served as the home court for the Austin Aces of World Team Tennis from 2014 to 2015.

Austin Independent School District (AISD) is a school district based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. Established in 1881, the district serves most of the City of Austin, the neighboring municipalities of Sunset Valley and San Leanna, and unincorporated areas in Travis County. The district operates 116 schools including 78 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, and 17 high schools. As of 2013, AISD covers 54.1% of the City of Austin by area and serves 73.5% of its residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jacinto High School (Houston)</span> Secondary school in Texas, United States

San Jacinto High School was a secondary school located at 1300 Holman Street in Houston, Texas; now part of the Houston Community College Central College, Central Campus. San Jacinto High School was located in the area now known as Midtown. It was a part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on December 4, 2012.

The University of Texas at Austin was originally conceived in 1827 under an article in the Constitución de Coahuila y Texas to open a public university in the state of Texas. The Constitution of 1876 also called for the creation of "The University of Texas” By the late 1990s, the university had the largest enrollment in the country and contained many of the country's top programs in the areas of law, architecture, film, engineering, and business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlington Independent School District</span> School district in Arlington, Texas

Arlington Independent School District or Arlington ISD is a school district based in Arlington, Texas (USA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akins High School</span> School in Austin, Texas

Akins High School is located in South Austin, Texas, United States. The school is named after William Charles Akins, the first black teacher to work at a high school after desegregation in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Akins was established in 2000, and is the second newest zoned high school in AISD. With an enrollment over 2700, it is the 2nd largest school in AISD, behind Bowie High School. Akins High School competes in UIL 6A Conference in all athletic and academic competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCallum High School</span> School in Austin, Travis, United States

A. N. McCallum High School is a public high school in Austin, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southgate–Lewis House</span> Historic house in Texas, United States

The Southgate–Lewis House is a historic landmark located one mile east of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. The Southgate–Lewis House is located in the center of the east Austin "African American Cultural Heritage District".

West Campus is a neighborhood in central Austin, Texas west of Guadalupe Street and its namesake, the University of Texas at Austin. Due to its proximity to the university, West Campus is heavily populated by college students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldine High School</span> Public school in Texas, United States

Aldine Senior High School is a public high school located in the Greenspoint district of northern Houston, Texas, United States. It is part of the Aldine Independent School District. The senior high school campus serves grades 10 through 12. The separate Aldine Ninth Grade School hosts students in grade 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lions Municipal Golf Course</span> United States historic center

Lions Municipal Golf Course, nicknamed Muny, is a municipal golf course at 2901 Enfield Road in Austin, Texas. The golf course occupies 141 acres of land the City of Austin leases from the University of Texas since 1937 as part of the greater Brackenridge Tract. The golf course has been subject to ongoing controversy due to the recommended termination of the current term by the University of Texas in 2019. A report commissioned by the city found that Muny's burdensome property lease payment is a primary challenge in operating Austin's public golf courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of African Americans in Austin</span>

The history of African Americans in Austin dates back to 1839, when the first African American, Mahala Murchison, arrived. By the 1860s, several communities were established by freedmen that later became incorporated into the city proper. The relative share of Austin's African-American population has steadily declined since its peak in the late 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Hartzell</span> President of the University of Texas at Austin

Jay Carter Hartzell is an American economist. He has served as the 30th President of the University of Texas at Austin since 2020. He is set to leave this position at the end of the 2024-25 academic year to become the 11th President of Southern Methodist University, effective June 1, 2025. Additionally, he holds the Centennial Chair in Business Education Leadership and the Trammell Crow Regents Professor in Business at UT Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Campus</span> Historic district in Austin, Texas

The Little Campus is a historic district and part of the University of Texas at Austin campus in Austin, Texas. Originally built in 1856 as the Texas Asylum for the Blind, the complex was used for a variety of purposes through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was acquired by the University of Texas after World War I and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System – University Junior High School (#01000396)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2012/09/01/junior-high-led-austin-desegregation/9778744007/
  3. ↑ Menon, Sonali (December 18, 2021). "UT Child Development Center breaks ground on new facility to replace San Jacinto location". Daily Texan . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). National Park Service. April 19, 2001. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ https://archive.today/20240506141446/https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/04/14/homelessness-austin-tx-ut-athletics-10-million-pledge-help-homeless-raises-questions/72979391007/
  6. ↑ https://archive.today/20230423155257/https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/football/2023/04/23/new-ut-football-practice-facility-will-be-near-dkr-moody-center/70140103007/
  7. ↑ https://www.preservationaustin.org/news/preservation-austin-supports-designation-of-ut-austins-school-of-social-work-building-as-a-state-antiquities-landmark
  8. ↑ https://archive.today/20240222022824/https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/your-voice/2024/01/23/opinion-ut-should-preserve-the-past-and-stop-planned-demolition-of-building-and-art/72270351007/
  9. ↑ https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2023-05-12/opinion-ut-shouldnt-prioritize-football-over-historic-preservation/
  10. ↑ https://www.chron.com/news/article/ut-school-social-work-19435548.php
  11. ↑ https://thc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/THC_Quarterly_Public_Oct2024.pdf
  12. ↑ https://www.chron.com/news/article/ut-hicks-school-social-work-19599085.php
  13. ↑ https://www.chron.com/news/article/university-of-texas-hicks-demolition-19795131.php
  14. ↑ https://archive.today/20241108154835/https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/09/27/ut-football-wins-battle-over-historic-building-demolition-university-junior-high-austin-texas/75385415007/
  15. ↑ https://thedailytexan.com/2024/10/07/demolition-of-social-work-building-begins-despite-opposition-from-preservation-group/
  16. 1 2 "University Junior High School Records". Texas Archival Resources Online. University of Texas . Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  17. 1 2 Roberts, Stan (July 17, 2010). "Junior high led Austin desegregation". Austin American-Statesman . Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  18. ↑ https://socialwork.utexas.edu/university-honors-social-work-dean-barbara-w-white/
  19. ↑ https://theaustinindependent.org/from-brush-to-crush-destroying-art-and-erasing-history/
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.