Texas A&M University will go ahead with construction of the Aplin Center, a $250 million facility to expand experiential learning in hospitality, retail, and food & nutrition sciences. The Board of Regents approved the project Thursday, August 28, 2025, calling it a new front door to future students and visitors.
The three-story, 211,724-square-foot building will be named after Arch Aplin III, Buc-ee’s CEO. Texas A&M plans to bring a formal naming agenda before the regents at some point later this fall.
The Aplin Center is to be built on the block that is contained by Olsen Boulevard, John Kimbrough Boulevard, and Wellborn Road where Lot 100 used to be. Specialized teaching laboratories and hands-on training facilities for viticulture and enology, fermentation, coffee roasting, product development, sensory panels, meat and food science, and retail and hospitality operations are to be constructed.
An adjacent visitor center will also be a component of the complex, which will have a 100-seat theater, 70-seat multipurpose facility, office space for staff, and ambassador spaces to enable campus tours. Administrators describe that the new building will enhance the student experience as well as offer a better welcome for visitors.
Aplin role in bringing the project to life
Board of Regents Chairman Robert Albritton expressed appreciation to Aplin for his role in bringing the project to life. “Arch Aplin created a Texas original, and now he’s helping us build an incredible facility at Texas A&M,” Albritton said. “The Aplin Center combines Aggie hospitality with experiential learning, and it will pay dividends to students and our state.”
Chancellor Glenn Hegar also commended Aplin’s donation. “This gift is true Aggie — humble, practical and student-focused,” Hegar said. “Arch Aplin is ‘paying it forward’ to allow future Aggies to learn by doing and to give every guest a first-rate welcome to campus.”
Project financing is $225 million funded this week, in addition to $25 million previously funded. Sources are Revenue Financing System debt proceeds, Permanent University Fund debt proceeds, and university investment income.
Construction will commence in September 2025, with February 2028 being the date when substantial completion is estimated. The Texas A&M University System is investing heavily across its campuses, with projects that include the ongoing construction of an event center at Texas A&M University–Texarkana and the recently announced five-year, $1.9 billion capital plan for the flagship campus in College Station.
Texas A&M System Approves Construction Aplin Center Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Building Name: Aplin Center
Total Investment: $250 million
Purpose: Expand hands-on learning in hospitality, retail, and food sciences
Status: Approved by Board of Regents (August 28, 2025)
Facility Specifications
Building Size: 211,724 square feet
Stories: Three (3)
Location: Block bordered by Wellborn Road, John Kimbrough Boulevard, and Olsen Boulevard (former Lot 100 site)
Facility Features
Academic Spaces
Specialized teaching laboratories
Real-world training venues for:
Viticulture and enology
Fermentation studies
Coffee roasting
Product development
Sensory evaluation
Meat and food sciences
Retail operations
Hospitality management
Visitor Center Components
100-seat theater
70-seat multipurpose room
Staff offices
Ambassador spaces for campus tours
Enhanced welcome facilities for prospective students and guests
Project Timeline
Board Approval: August 28, 2025
Construction Start: September 2025
Completion: February 2028
Project Duration: Approximately 2.5 years
Funding Structure
Total Budget: $250 million
Funding Sources:
$225 million appropriated (August 2025)
$25 million previously allocated
Permanent University Fund debt proceeds
Revenue Financing System debt proceeds
University investment earnings
Naming Recognition
Named After: Arch Aplin III, CEO of Buc-ee’s
Formal Naming: To be presented to Board of Regents in Fall 2025
