Waterfront Events Pavilion And Amphitheater Construction Underway At Texas A&M Galveston    

Ground was broken today for the $6 million Waterfront Event Pavilion project at Texas A&M University at Galveston.  The project will also include an outdoor amphitheater that can further extend the space of the pavilion, or also be used as a separate venue for outdoor events.

The pavilion will be located on the south side of the Oceans and Coastal Studies Building, between the building's courtyard and the waterfront.  The building will include a multipurpose room that will accommodate 150 people in banquet seating and nearly 275 people in theater seating.  Unique to this new building will be its indoor/outdoor capability.  Much of the glass exterior windows will be designed to fold which will extend the indoor space outdoors to an open air deck that will accommodate an additional 50-100 seats, depending on event setup.

Hosting the groundbreaking event was Dr. Doug Palmer, interim chief operations officer at Texas A&M Galveston. "Breaking ground for this Waterfront Events Pavilion is truly transformational for this campus," said Palmer.  "It will be a beautiful structure that connects the campus with the water - the focus of all we do here at Texas A&M Galveston.  It will meet a long standing need, be a gathering place, a large meeting place and a special events venue that has been long needed by students, staff and faculty.  And as we continue to grow, this pavilion will enhance the nature and quality of the university experience for students for years to come."

The $6 million project will be funded through campus resources, including a $1 million capital investment from Chartwells, the dining services company serving Texas A&M Galveston.  "We are proud to partner with Chartwells," said Palmer.  "This venue will also provide an outstanding setting for collaborative campus and Galveston town events."

Representing President Michael Young and Texas A&M University was the institution's vice provost, Dr. Michael Benedik.  "This is a campus that is really on the move," said Benedik.  "There have really been dramatic changes that are taking place, there are amazing ambitions and there is real transformation going on at this campus.  Just in terms of infrastructure, this groundbreaking marks the third of four big construction projects during the last three years.  These are modern, state-of-the-art facilities that will really support the faculty, staff and the students and the teaching and research missions.  What you are really doing here is preparing the leaders of the next generation and conducting research that really impacts the state, the nation and the world."

The pavilion and amphitheater are due to be completed by the summer of 2017.