College Station, TX, October 6, 2025

News Summary

Texas A&M University has begun construction on the Aplin Center, a $60 million facility aimed at enhancing education in hospitality, retail, and food sciences. The center, made possible by a historic donation from Arch ‘Beaver’ Aplin III, will feature hands-on learning labs, a restaurant, and a visitor center. Slated for completion in February 2028, it represents a significant investment in experiential learning and community engagement.

College Station

Texas A&M University has officially launched the construction of the Aplin Center, a groundbreaking facility set to enhance hospitality, retail, and food and nutrition sciences education. The center, backed by a historic $60 million donation from Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, founder of Buc-ee’s, marks the largest single contribution in Texas A&M’s history. The facility is slated for completion in February 2028 and is anticipated to become a pivotal hub for practical learning for students in these fields.

The Aplin Center will be designed as an experiential learning hub, offering students hands-on opportunities that are essential for gaining a competitive edge in the service industry. The building will feature immersive learning labs dedicated to a variety of disciplines including fermentation, dairy, meat science, coffee, floral design, enology, and culinary product development. It will also include a restaurant that will provide students with direct experience in food service and management.

In addition to its educational focus, the Aplin Center will serve as a visitor center for prospective Texas A&M students. The facility will replace the existing visitor center located at Rudder Tower and will be equipped with a 170-seat theater and a 70-seat multipurpose room, designed to host various events and presentations. This aspect of the center is intended to foster community engagement, providing a gathering place for both students and visitors.

The significance of the Aplin Center extends beyond its educational offerings. The facility will be the largest mass timber building in the United States, constructed entirely of wood sourced from Texas. Officials at the groundbreaking ceremony emphasized the project’s potential to cultivate creativity, innovation, and leadership opportunities for students. The Texas A&M System Chancellor, among other political and educational figures, underscored the importance of the center in bridging education with practical experiences in hospitality and related fields.

Governor Greg Abbott took part in the ceremonial event, highlighting that the Aplin Center would broaden educational horizons at Texas A&M. The foundation for the center was laid following Aplin’s commitment to support Texas A&M, which initially began as a $50 million donation in 2022, further increased by an additional $10 million in 2025 to enhance hospitality and retail education at the university.

As the construction progresses, the Aplin Center is expected to create valuable connections between academic learning and real-world applications in hospitality, retail, and food sciences. With its focus on community engagement, it aims to ensure that both students and visitors have an enriching experience, with Aplin expressing his desire to create an unforgettable first impression upon entering the facility.

Key Features of the Aplin Center

• Donation Amount: $60 million
• Scheduled Completion: February 2028
• Largest Mass Timber Building: Yes, all Texas-sourced wood
• Learning Labs: Fermentation, dairy, meat science, coffee, floral design, enology, culinary and product development
• Hospitality Experience: Restaurant for food service and management training
• Visitor Center Features: 170-seat theater, 70-seat multipurpose room
• Focus Areas: Hospitality, retail, food science
• Community Engagement: Gathering space for students and visitors

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Additional Resources

• KXXV Local News
• Wikipedia: Texas A&M University
• KCEN TV
• Google Search: Aplin Center Texas A&M
• The Eagle
• Google Scholar: Aplin Center Texas A&M
• Hoodline
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas A&M University
• Architect’s Newspaper
• Google News: Aplin Center groundbreaking

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