Campus Life

TAMUG’s Newest Building Additions Win Houston Business Journal Building Project Contest

The Aggie Special Events Center (ASEC) and MAIN buildings

Texas A&M University at Galveston is proud to announce our campus’ newest additions, the Aggie Special Events Center (ASEC) and MAIN, together, have earned the distinguished honor of being named the 2020 winner of the Houston Business Journal’s Landmark Award in the “Public Assembly” category.

“The goal with this project was to show our campus’ commitment to offering updated, state-of-the-art facilities and plenty of multipurpose event space that will support our students, staff, faculty and visitor’s needs for years to come,” said Associate Vice President for Administration and Auxiliary Services Grant Shallenberger ‘86.

The four floors encompassing our MAIN building, opened in 2018, are an essential part of our campus. Inside are state-of-the-art chemistry and physics labs, a number of administrative departmental offices, including the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, as well as the Pelican Island On-The-Go café, multiple group study areas, and more.

ASEC features a host of modern multipurpose spaces for our entire campus and visitors to enjoy. The revamped campus bookstore, and our indoor/outdoor coffee café, Mugdown, are on the first floor. Upstairs is the sizable ballroom ideal for hosting everything from a formal reception for 600+, Howdy Week activities or a week-long science forum. Though only opened just last year, ASEC has already become an Aggie By the Sea mainstay.

Shallenberger said working with longtime Galveston Campus construction partners Linbeck Group, LLC, (MAIN – Phase 1) PGAL, Inc. and Vaughn Construction (ASEC – Phase 2) was ideal as they understand Texas A&M-Galveston’s unique academic vision and coastal location.

“We often hear people say that we are a hidden gem and I’m hopeful that winning an award like the HBJ Landmark Award will help to pull back the veil so others can see what we do,” he concluded.

The awards recognize the Greater Houston area’s top commercial real estate projects of the previous year. A panel of judges narrowed down the finalists to 51 projects in 19 categories and determined the winners.

Projects were recognized for excellence in design, construction, land planning, management and marketing and their ability to positively portray the look, feel and image of the Greater Houston area. Entries were judged on their total impact to the area, including visual plan, environmental friendliness, job creation and more.

Click here to see a virtual tour of our award-winning campus!