Feature Illustration: Artist rendering. Image: DLR Group and Pickard Chilton.

Posted: 10-9-2025

by Art Benavidez

College Station (Brazos County) — Texas A&M University has broken ground on the Aplin Center, a $60 million, 211,000-square-foot facility that will redefine hands-on learning and serve as a new visitor hub for the campus.

When completed in 2028, the three-story center will bring together hospitality, retail, and marketing education in a one-of-a-kind experiential environment on the university’s West Campus near Kyle Field, according to a news release.

Funded by Buc-ee’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, the Aplin Center will feature immersive learning labs for fields such as culinary arts, meat and dairy science, fermentation, floral design, enology, and product development. Plans also include a full-service restaurant managed by students, allowing them to gain real-world experience in hospitality and food service management. The center will also house the university’s new visitor center, complete with a 170-seat theater and a multipurpose room designed to inspire prospective students.

Designed by DLR Group and Pickard Chilton, the Aplin Center will stand as Texas’s most significant mass timber project on a university campus, using more than 3.5 million board feet of Texas-sourced timber. The structure’s U-shaped design symbolizes a welcoming embrace, and the surrounding landscape will highlight mature oak trees and outdoor spaces that emphasize sustainability and natural beauty. “The Aplin Center fits right in with the values of Texas A&M,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “It’s about innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to students.”

Aplin, a 1980 graduate in construction science, said the project reflects his desire to give back to the university that helped shape his success. “The Texas A&M culture and friendships influenced me and my business career in many ways,” he said. “What we’re creating here will be a game changer — a place that celebrates Aggie spirit, innovation, and world-class learning.” The Aplin Center marks Aplin’s latest contribution to Texas A&M, following his $60 million gift that also established the Arch H. Aplin III Departments of Hospitality and Marketing.

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