Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Reaches New Heights with Topping Out of Arts and Media Building

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A new height, both symbolic and literal, was reached with the topping out of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s highly anticipated Arts and Media Building. On Aug. 26, Islanders, community partners, and supporters gathered to celebrate the placement of the highest, signature-covered beam, marking a construction milestone and signaling the start of the project’s next phase.  

“This building represents growth — growth in the opportunities we can offer our students, growth in the ways we can engage the community, and growth in the university’s role as a hub for arts and culture in the Coastal Bend,” said Dr. Kelly M. Miller, TAMU-CC President and CEO.

Slated for completion by summer 2026, the new 85,000-square-foot building will house TAMU-CC’s music, theatre, and dance programs, bringing together students, faculty, and community members in a space designed for collaboration and artistic expression.

At its heart is a state-of-the-art, 200-seat recital hall that will serve as the premier venue for student and faculty musical performances and recitals. It will also feature a 325-seat proscenium theatre with the Robert Garcia and Bill Richmond Stage, alongside a 166-seat black box theatre designed for experimental and intimate productions. Complementing these performance spaces are a new dance studio, multiple rehearsal rooms, and specialized workshops.

Designed by BGK Architects in partnership with Bora Architecture & Interiors and built by Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, the facility seamlessly blends modern design with functionality to meet the growing needs of the university and its artistic programs.

“That’s why this new Arts and Media building means so much to me,” said Angelica Delgado ’27, a music education major.  “Yes, it’s exciting to have state-of-the-art practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, and a beautiful recital hall, but it’s also about what happens inside those walls. You’re giving us a place to grow, to take a leap of faith, and to create something worth sharing.”

The project is supported by $45 million from the Texas Legislature, appropriated during the 87th session through Senate Bill 52. University leadership, state officials, and generous donors have rallied together to ensure the vision for the Arts and Media Building becomes a reality.

“None of this would be possible without collaboration,” Miller said. “Together, we are not just creating a place of learning, but a driving force for innovation, creative activity, and cultural vibrancy in the Coastal Bend."

In addition to giving students the tools and spaces they need to thrive, the Arts and Media Building will serve as a cornerstone for cultural engagement in the region. With performances, community outreach, and partnerships, the facility will expand opportunities for Coastal Bend residents to connect with the arts.

“This building isn’t just a collection of walls and beams. It’s about what will come alive the moment the curtains are drawn, and the lights flood the stages,” said Dr. Mary Thornton, Music Department Chair and Professor. “Even now, I can already imagine the pride and joy our students will experience as they bring this building to life through their performances.”

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s music and theatre programs are nationally accredited, recognized for their quality, excellence, and high standards. Enrollment in the theatre program has doubled within the past decade, and 100% of theatre education graduates are gainfully employed. Enrollment numbers are expected to climb even higher once the new building opens.

The completion of the Arts and Media Building will also create new opportunities across campus. The Center for the Arts, built in 1978, will undergo a much-needed facelift to become a vibrant hub for other creative programs, while the Performing Arts Center, with its 1,350-seat venue, will expand its ability to host headline performances and family-friendly events, drawing even more community members to campus.

To offer philanthropic support or to learn more about naming opportunities within the Arts and Media Building, contact Jaime Nodarse Barrera at jaime.nodarse@tamucc.edu or 361.825.3320.