The University of Texas at El Paso has begun to demolish two former dormitories to make way for a $70 million building earmarked for research.
The effort is mean to help the school achieve Tier One research status.
Burges Hall opened in the early 1960s. Barry Hall opened in 1971 but closed in 1997 due to low occupancy levels.
Tier One refers to universities that have $100 million in research spending annually. Figures from the National Science Foundation indicate UTEP had about $83 million in research spending in fiscal 2013.
UTEP officials plan a 250,000-square-foot research structure. The 2015 Legislature approved the funding through tuition revenue bonds.
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Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com
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