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The University of Texas at Austin

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Lady Bird Johnson Plaza Renovation Design

LBJ School Renovation

As is evident from the construction surrounding and between the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Library and Museum, work is well underway to repair the leaky and deteriorating LBJ Plaza. The new plaza is a tribute to the life and works of Lady Bird Johnson. The original series of three water fountains will now become a rolling arboretum of three elevated knolls reminiscent of the vegetation and landscape of Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson’s beloved Hill Country.

In addition, the LBJ School is in the process of its own $18 million building renovation to be completed by Spring 2010. The objectives are to:

  1. improve departmental performance;
  2. expand programmatic initiatives; and
  3. improve student services

The new design will take advantage of the current building structure, but minimize the long hallways, the underutilized spaces, and the haphazardness of the presentation. Instead, the School will pursue a cluster concept in which people of common interests and similar function can come together to improve interaction and create a dynamic energy of discussion, collaboration, and collegiality. This means renovating existing space to maintain the current square footage of Faculty/Administrative Offices (approximately 21,442 square feet), while adding an additional 17,000 square feet of collaborative work/study space.

If you have questions about the renovations, please feel free to contact Assistant Dean for Administration Jeffery R. Patterson at jeffpatterson@austin.utexas.edu.