Today, UTSA will unveil San Pedro I, a world-class facility that will usher in a new era of high-tech education, research and innovation in Texas. The $91.8 million facility will house the university’s National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) and new School of Data Science (SDS), advancing economic development in the urban core and creating prosperity for San Antonians.
San Pedro I is the first project in UTSA’s phased, 10-year approach to accelerating the development of its Downtown Campus as a destination for producing highly skilled professionals in data science, data analytics and national security. The 167,000-square-foot facility includes 84,000 square feet of flexible classroom, laboratory and research space that is organized in four neighborhoods to encourage collaboration between students and faculty in data science and related disciplines. The building has four suites and 16 offices for companies that want to co-locate with UTSA.
Several guests will be on hand for today’s grand opening including UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, UT System Board of Regents Vice Chair Rad Weaver, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy, UTSA Senior Vice President for Business Affairs & Chief Financial Officer Veronica Salazar, SDS Founding Director David Mongeau, NSCC Executive Director Guy Walsh, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, business leader/UTSA philanthropist Graham Weston, U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos, data.org Chief Data & Technology Officer Uyi Stewart, Meta Fintech Deputy CISO for Governance, Risk and Compliance Renee Forney and greater:SATX President and CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera.
The day’s activities include a formal dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting in addition to a lunchtime panel discussion exploring the future of data science and information security. Following the luncheon, guests will take self-guided Discovery Tours to explore the building’s academic and research programs and spaces. Other highlights include The Eatery—a Chef Johnny Hernandez-inspired café and a Proto Epic life-sized hologram device that will bring experts to UTSA from around the world.
UTSA developed San Pedro I in collaboration with a design-build team led by Whiting-Turner that included Jacobs and Overland Partners.
