The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is making another investment in downtown San Antonio. The university today opened San Pedro II, a 180,000-square-foot facility that will fuel education, research and economic mobility in the city’s growing technology corridor.
San Pedro II will expand opportunities for students to learn and create connections in the heart of the city as they prepare for their careers. Inside, students will have access to top-rated undergraduate and graduate degree programs in growing technology industries, hands-on learning opportunities in a practical setting and an environment enriched by industry networking and collaboration.
This distinctive learning environment will enable students to develop and apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world living laboratory. In turn, graduates will gain a competitive edge in the job market while UT San Antonio expands its pipeline of highly trained students for the region’s technology workforce.
“San Pedro II represents the future of UT San Antonio,” said UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy. “By anchoring this investment downtown, we are intentionally and directly connecting talent with industry, government and community partners that drive workforce and economic development. Together, we will drive innovation, expand opportunity and fuel economic growth across downtown and throughout all of San Antonio.”
An urban learning environment
The College of AI, Cyber and Computing will occupy much of the new building, expanding from San Pedro I and the Main Campus. The college is home to more than 5,000 students studying artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computing and data science.
Situated in San Antonio’s urban core, the college offers 11 undergraduate programs, 12 graduate programs and six graduate-level certificate programs including one of the nation’s only bachelor’s programs in Applied Data Analytics, a dynamic academic program at the intersection of cybersecurity and data science.
The college drives innovation across industries — from healthcare to finance — through high-quality academic programs, transdisciplinary research, and the ability to quickly launch new offerings that address emerging technologies — all while supporting workforce development and economic growth in San Antonio, Texas and the nation.
Leveraging its urban location, students and faculty members will learn and work in proximity to leading industry, government and community partners, seamlessly connecting the next generation of talent to the industry leaders who need it most.
Take a look inside the new San Pedro II.
Where innovation, industry and student success converge
UT San Antonio intentionally designed San Pedro II to move students seamlessly from classroom to career. The USAA Student Success Center will anchor this mission by providing integrated advising, academic support, personalized coaching, and career preparation programming for students in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing. Made possible through a $2 million investment from USAA, students will gain the guidance and support they need to persist and graduate workforce ready.
Additionally, the Harvey E. Najim Innovation District will nurture community partnerships that enable students to turn their ideas into action. Made possible through an initial gift from longtime university supporter Harvey E. Najim to establish the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement, the innovation hub will enable students to launch startups and facilitate collaborative industry projects that develop their entrepreneurial skills. It will empower students from all majors to translate their classroom knowledge into tangible solutions that are responsive to local market needs.
Equally central to the building’s purpose is community engagement. The university’s Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Leadership offers a suite of professional development programs for students with a passion for community service. These experiences deepen students’ understanding of the communities they serve and the impact they can make.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of data science jobs will increase 36% nationally and the number of cybersecurity jobs will increase 35% nationally between the years 2021 and 2031.
“At UT San Antonio, we are committed to designing academic experiences that prepare students for what comes next,” said Heather Shipley, UT San Antonio provost and senior executive vice president for academic affairs. “San Pedro II advances our academic vision for a university that is deeply connected to place, people and purpose, ensuring our graduates are career-ready and prepared to lead in fast-evolving fields.”
A hub for industry and community
The Valero Engagement Center will further extend San Pedro II’s reach, serving as a hub for industry collaboration, events and conferences in the urban core. Backed by a $1.5 million investment from Valero supporting scholarships and experiential learning, the center enhances connections between students and employers.
San Pedro I, which opened in January 2023, and San Pedro II are cornerstones in UT San Antonio’s vision to create a vibrant and connected downtown campus. Both buildings anchor UT San Antonio to San Antonio’s prospering high-tech corridor and serve as a catalyst for economic and community investment. The university aims to have a downtown student population of 10,000 by 2028, according to its Campus Master Plan.
Additionally, the buildings are part of the university’s larger placemaking efforts to connect interior classrooms and meeting spaces with outdoor venues, public art and green spaces along San Pedro Creek, creating an ecosystem that supports students and the community.
In the summer, the university will install two prominent sculptures by internationally recognized Mexican artist Sebastián outside San Pedro II, adding to the city’s public arts scene. They include Águila Bicentenario (2010), a vertical steel sculpture with an acrylic finish that is nearly 10 feet tall, and Celosia Borunda (2008), an 8-foot-tall, red steel sculpture, finished with acrylic.
