The University of Texas at Dalas held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 8 for a new addition to the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s complex.

Construction of the $98 million, three-story, 125,000 sq. ft. building is expected to be completed in May 2026, and it will bring the Jindal School’s total footprint to 428,000 sq. ft. The project is designed by architectural firm Perkins&Will and is being managed by Project Control. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company will manage the building’s construction.

UT System Regent Christina Melton Crain was on hand to make remarks, as were Dr. Richard C. Benson, UT Dallas president and Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership; Dr. Calvin Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development; Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean; and Debopreeta Bhattacharya, a sociology senior and vice president of UT Dallas’ student government.

The addition will house the Jindal School’s undergraduate and Executive Education programs, the Business Communications Program, a new artificial intelligence lab and a Starbucks. The Dean’s Suite will also be moved there.

“Our existing buildings house 51 classrooms, five computer labs, a dining hall and a 350-seat auditorium, and these buildings are home to nearly 11,000 students, 270 full-time faculty, 130 adjunct faculty, 235 staff and 125 PhD students,” said Pirkul, who, as dean for the past 29 years, has overseen the construction of every Jindal School facility. “Believe me, we cannot wait to occupy our new building. During the past two years we have been truly struggling to find offices for our new faculty and staff.”

Benson opened his remarks by stating that those who have been around the UT Dallas campus are aware of its significant transformation over the past few years.

“Construction cranes and earth-moving vehicles are constant companions,” he said. “In fact,” he joked, “some students say that we should make the crane our mascot and following our tradition of reversing names, it would be known as ENARC.”

He also mentioned that having construction cranes “is a sure sign that UT Dallas is moving forward into the best and newest version of itself” Jamison said at the ceremony that UT Dallas had broken ground on three new buildings and cut the ribbon on a fourth during the previous three months, all totaling more than 650,000 sq. feet at a cost of more than $500 million. “You see, the UT Dallas economic engine is in full throttle” he said.

Crain expressed her admiration for the “electric growth” of UT Dallas and committed the UT System Board of Regents’ full support to meeting its needs. “New institutional spaces are essential to fueling the innovations that take place when faculty and students can explore ideas,” she said. “With the completion of this new addition, generations of students will have a robust and productive experience in the Jindal School of Management and all that it offers.”

Crain praised Jindal School alumni as “terrific ambassadors” for the school and university and mentioned a few by name, most of whom were in attendance. “You have examples of the stellar alumni in the schools namesake, Naveen Jindal, as well as Chuck and Nancy Davidson, A.K. Mago, Ron Nash and Kevin Ryan,” she said.

“Without a doubt, UT Dallas continues to be an important part of the educational landscape that extends beyond our state, and especially here in North Texas. With the amazing growth that were having, what happens on this campus is making a real difference.”

Bhattacharya, whose sociology major is housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, pointed out that, as a healthcare management minor, she frequently has had interactions with Jindal School faculty and experiences with JSOM resources and spaces.

“I have had great professors help me through rigorous courses, use (the Jindal Schools) Career Center to help craft my résumé, and downed a latte or two from Tradecraft Coffee,” she said. “Even though I have gotten lost in the JSOM buildings multiple times,” she said, “I have also found a great network and career options, and so have many other students at UTD.” She also said that she looks forward to seeing the new addition “contribute to the continuous advancement of the School of Management and UTD as a whole.”

Before concluding the formal ceremony and releasing the audience to participate in an outdoor hardhat and shovel photo session with UT Dallas mascot TEMOC, Jamison highlighted some of the unique aspects of UT Dallas culture, including the UTD Chess Team’s 19 appearances in the final four of the Presidents Cup, the national championships of collegiate team chess, the two national championships won by the UTD Esports team and the National Cricket League USAs inaugural Sixty Strikes Tournament being hosted by UT Dallas in 2024.

“When you think about Friday Night Lights, you think about Texas football”, he said. “When you think about Friday Night Lights at UT Dallas, it’s cricket. When you think about UT Dallas overall, it’s where the arts, Esports, chess and cricket are normalized.”