The groundbreaking of San Pedro II, also referred to as the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Careers building, was a ceremonious event to introduce this new academic building to the UTSA downtown campus and the city of San Antonio.
The event took place last Wednesday on the San Pedro Creek across from the San Pedro I building.
San Pedro II is being built to advance, bolster and connect San Antonio’s business community and university students. The new development underscores UTSA’s commitment to providing career-focused education and its role in strengthening ties with the local technology industry and the broader San Antonio community.
“We are eager to spur San Antonio’s economic development through internships, career focused learning, all that contributes to the upward mobility of our students, their families and our entire city,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. “We are in a special ecosystem here, these two buildings are here to amplify that ecosystem.”
The building will construct many new possibilities and opportunities for the students and workers of San Antonio.
“San Pedro I and San Pedro II at the south west campus represent an excellent opportunity for higher education in our community,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said. “This new building and the programs it imposes will make Bexar County an even better place to study, work and live. It is the next step to expanding the ever growing partnership between the county and UTSA.”
The creation of San Pedro II and San Pedro Creek Culture Park was imagined by former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. In 2013, Nelson stood on the creek and looked at what used to be a drainage ditch and said “we need to do something about this.” The county put up $250 million and worked with the San Antonio River Authority to complete the project.
The San Pedro II building will consist of an immersive and hands-on learning environment. San Pedro I houses the National Security Collaboration Center and School of Data Science with programs in cybersecurity and data science. These two buildings will intersect and connect classrooms and meeting spaces. The new development will integrate supplemental interdisciplinary and collaborative programs in business, engineering and different sciences.
The event ended with a groundbreaking globe float to honor the innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship that San Pedro II will advance for students, staff and community. For more information on the development, visit bold.utsa.edu/destinationdowntown/.
