Austin, TX
Austin’s Blanton Museum reimagines its grounds as a place for a university campus, city and community
The Blanton Museum of Art’s recently completed $35m renovation of its grounds centres on a reimagined outdoor space that acts as both a gateway and a gathering place. Bringing together three major site-specific installations and led by the architecture firm Snøhetta, the redesign makes a statement that there is a museum here at the University of Texas at Austin (UT)—something that was once easy to overlook when its stately but subdued Spanish Revival buildings blended into the campus.
At one end of the museum’s 200,000 sq. ft footprint is Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, evoking a secular chapel with its coloured glass windows since its installation there in 2018, and on the other are 12 new towering tulip-like shade structures by Snøhetta. Between them is a panoramic mural by the Cuban American artist Carmen Herrera—her only major public mural commission before she died in 2022 at age 106. Visitors now pass through the mural’s centre as they enter the galleries building, which faces the museum’s administration building across this revamped corridor. Called Verde, que te quiero verde (Green, How I Desire You Green), Herrera’s large-scale panels of green slashed with white recall her 1956 painting Green and White, the pinwheeling pattern now framed by the archways of the loggia that span the Blanton.
“There’s an interesting syncopation between the precise geometries and hard lines of the mural and the curvilinear shapes of the loggia that you see from your approach,” says Vanessa K. Davidson, the Blanton’s curator of Latin American art.
Herrera had previously created only two other (smaller) murals, in 2017 and 2020 for New York City Public Schools. Before focusing primarily on abstract painting, Herrera studied architecture at the University of Havana. She expressed her longtime interest in public work in a letter to the Blanton, writing: “The idea of murals always fascinated me as a lover of architecture; it is a delicate balance to any architect or painter. A space is somehow affected or altered by the altering of its surfaces. I love the challenge and respect the responsibility in the choices that are made.”
VIsitors to the Blanton sit in front of Carmen Herrera’s Verde, que te quiero verde (Green, How I Desire You Green) Photo: Casey Dunn, courtesy the Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas
This thoughtfulness in transforming space extends throughout the renovation, such as Snøhetta’s architectural interventions on the museum buildings themselves with two buoyantly yellow vault shapes echoing the loggia arches, one playfully inverted to frame a staircase that acts as an elevated lookout.
Craig Edward Dykers, a co-founder of Snøhetta, studied at UT and drew on that experience. “We wanted to give the school a strong presence for the future, but we also knew that the campus aesthetic was somewhat conservatively focussed on the past,” he says. “Through our knowledge of the campus, we were able to create a completely contemporary narrative with inventive forms and structure, while still incorporating iconic elements of the past—such as the arches of the nearby buildings.”
This renovation project broke ground in March 2021 and was finished earlier this summer, but the Blanton’s metamorphosis from a small teaching museum to an institution presenting art on an international stage happened gradually over time, with the completion of Kelly’s Austin establishing its first exterior landmark six years ago.
Blanton director Simone Wicha says she has been interested in making the museum as much a community as a cultural space since she took the role in 2011. “Most museums have traditionally had these big, soaring atriums,” she says. “These [Snøhetta] shade structures play a really important practical role, but also provide a sense that you have entered into our atrium, and our atrium is, in a very Austin way, this outdoor space that is not singular to the museum experience. People linger, and it’s part of our civic life.”
Although Herrera became involved later in the process, Wicha wanted to specifically assign the commission to a Latin American artist in order to reflect the museum’s major Latin American art collection. In this way, the new exterior elements are in dialogue with the interior galleries.
Snøhetta’s architectural interventions include a playful elevated outlook onto the courtyard, an echo of the original building’s loggia arches (with Herrera’s mural visible in the back) Photo: Casey Dunn, courtesy the Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas
Wicha also sees the museum as being in a larger conversation with the Texas State Capitol, a building directly connected to the Blanton since the 2022 completion of a green pedestrian mall. Especially at a time when budget cuts and proposed legislation continue to threaten the arts, the museum is in a prominent position to showcase the power of creativity—like how Snøhetta’s native-flora landscapes recognise a future of extreme heat and drought. The eye-catching petal structures funnel rainwater to irrigate the plants below, from the spiky-leafed dwarf palmetto to the green grassy bursts of Cherokee sedge.
“We can make the art museum part of a statement on the importance of the arts,” Wicha says, noting that this has extended to working with faculty to bring students from all disciplines into the museum. “One of the things that is really important to me is that the museum be a place like you would think of a library on the campus, it’s just part of your experience.”
That engagement now extends beyond the museum’s walls in unexpected ways, including a dedicated outdoor gallery for sound. Its debut installation is by Bill Fontana, who made field recordings in the Texas Hill Country, such as of cave bats and local birds. This auditory experience gives the grounds a permeable yet distinct feel. Likewise, an elevated walkway that meanders between historic live oaks at the museum’s southern edge is a path for both visitors and commuters on the adjacent Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
“We put a lot of thought into this arrival onto campus and this dual mission,” Wicha says. “There are so many ways that you come to the museum, and we wanted to make sure the moment you walked in, you had an art experience and a beautiful, welcoming, clear understanding of where you were.”
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Austin is considering replacing the Barton Springs Bridge, citing concerns about the structure’s condition and long-term safety. However, preservation advocates are urging city leaders to fully explore alternatives before moving forward.
This week, Preservation Texas named Barton Springs Bridge one of the most endangered places for 2026.
“It’s a major road and a lot of stuff happening around here all the time, you know, public safety access, all these things are huge concerns, too. But we think that the historic nature of the bridge is really important,” said Meghan Namour, Policy and Outreach Planner at Preservation Austin.
According to city officials, the 100-year-old bridge has deteriorated over time, with cracking concrete, missing sections of concrete and other issues that have raised concerns about its future.
In 2024, the city received a $32 million bridge improvement grant from the Federal Highway Administration to help fund the project.
For longtime Austin resident Bethani Ragland, the bridge represents a piece of the city’s history.
“I’ve been here so long, since my childhood,” said Bethani Ragland, Austin resident.
She said she was disappointed to learn the bridge could eventually be replaced.
“It was built well because I haven’t noticed anything, no cracking no nothing. There’s no reason to take the bridge down. It’s just more construction in Austin,” said Ragland.
City of Austin officials say the project must still go through the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, review process.
In a statement to KXAN, the city said:
“The Barton Springs Bridge project is currently at the 90% design milestone. The project received a $32M bridge improvement program grant from the Federal Highway Administration, and will go through a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and approval process which includes assessment of environmental assets and review of bridge alternatives. The NEPA document will review and evaluate the historic, environmental and archeological significance of the bridge. There will be an analysis of both replacement and rehabilitation alternatives included. The NEPA process is expected to be completed in 2027.”
Preservation advocates say they hope that process includes meaningful consideration of ways to preserve the bridge.
“In our own city, we have examples of historic bridges that have been repurposed for new or different uses. There’s the Pfluger Pedestrian and Bike Bridge that was added next to the Lamar Bridge. Not every case is the same but we would love for those options to at least be meaningfully considered,” said Namour.
The road to Omaha starts now for the No. 6 national seed Texas Longhorns. For the 39th time in the program’s storied history, the Longhorns will host the NCAA Regional with the opportunity to host a super regional if they can get out of a talent grouping.
This year’s Austin Regional is paired up with the Eugene Regional, hosted by the No. 11 Oregon Ducks. Last season, Texas had its best season since 2010 in its first year in the Southeastern Conference, but everything came crashing down when the Longhorns lost twice to the UTSA Roadrunners.
While last year’s result served as a lesson for the returners, most of the 2026 squad was either at other places or in high school, marking a new beginning for many.
“It’s always the most fun time of year, and certainly when you need the opportunity to play at home,” head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “Welcome to Holy Cross, Tarleton State, and UCSB. Looking forward to great three or four days of baseball.”
Here are some keys for the Longhorns to make it out of the regional round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023.
1 – Aiden Robbins Must Produce
At one point in the season, Texas junior outfielder Aiden Robbins was one of the most dangerous hitters in the nation. For a hitter who has never batted under .300 dating back to high school, he maintained his production in a much more competitive SEC slate.
But in the final couple of games in the season, Robbins has not been the same imposing bat that won him the SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. Dating back to the Tennessee series, Robbins has gone 4-for-21 at the plate while striking out nine times.
The Longhorns’ top-of-the-order bat is also riding a three-game hitless streak heading into postseason play.
Robbins is battling back from a stomach bug that took him out early in the second game of the Missouri series and the entirety of the regular season finale.
If Texas wants to get out of its regional, its best bat for the entirety of the season must get back to his original form. A possible tuneup game against Holy Cross may be the switch to get him back. If not, he’ll have to move down in the order to allow catcher Carson Tinney and SEC Freshman of the Year, Anthony Pack Jr., to be the brunt of the offensive load.
2 – Texas Can’t Get Into The Loser’s Bracket
Playing two games in one day is almost a death sentence for any team with hopes of making it out of the regional.
Texas learned this the hard way: after beating Houston Christian in the first game of last season’s regional, the Longhorns fell in the second game to UTSA, forcing them to battle in the losers’ bracket with Kansas State.
Despite beating Kansas State on Sunday, Texas only had around an hour’s break before the regional final game, and a rematch with UTSA, ultimately in the regional defining loss.
“The biggest thing we learned is that everything up to this point just doesn’t, doesn’t matter. It’s all out the window – it’s a new season,” Luke Harrison said. “We’ve got to find a way to get better as a team and play better than we have all year.”
Texas is rolling out Harrison for game one against Holy Cross, saving Dylan Volantis for a big-time game on Saturday for either a rematch with Tarleton State or against a talented UC-Santa Brarba team.
While Texas does have the arms to win out of the losers’ bracket, it’s a task that will cause more pressure on the entire team.
3 – Starters and Bullpen Must Play Their A-Game
It has been well documented that the bullpen has seen its fair share of woes this season, and one of the keys to beating Texas is to retire the starter early to force them to tap into the bullpen early.
The starting trio of Harrison, Dylan Volantis and Ruger Riojas must eat up as many innings as possible, something they’ve done for the most part the entire season. Then it’s up to the bullpen to not allow the opposition to gain momentum down the stretch.
For Schlossnagle, there will not be much experimentation in the regional, and the arms that have proven their worth will get the nod.
“The guys who have pitched the best all season, they’re going to pitch the most,” Schlossnagle said. “If that means a reliever who maybe hasn’t pitched before the seventh inning has to come in a different part of the game, that’s what’s going to happen.”
While the SEC Tournament was disappointing on the hitting front, Texas was able to get looks from multiple pitchers in different parts of the game. Freshman pitchers, Sam Cozart and Brett Crossland, will be primary options while Thomas Burns and Haiden Leffew cannot struggle in the late-inning situations
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The Texas Education Agency rejected a partnership proposed by the Austin Independent School District to buy the district more time to avoid a state takeover. In a letter sent to Superintendent Matias Segura on Thursday, the TEA denied the district’s request to hand over three middle schools to an outside provider to run them under what is known as an 1882 agreement.
In March, the district proposed partnering with the Texas Council for International Studies to run Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools as charter schools. The three campuses have received four consecutive unacceptable grades from the state’s accountability system. A fifth failing grade could trigger a total takeover of the entire district, with the TEA replacing the school board with a board of managers.
The letter sent to Segura explains the operating partner must comply with three criteria: have at least three years of experience before taking over a campus; have managed multiple campuses for multiple years; and have significantly improved the academic performance of campuses. The TEA says TCIS only meets two of those three criteria, and it “does not qualify as an operating partner with the capacity necessary to successfully turn around campuses.”
The TEA argues TCIS has failed to prove a track record of improving campuses’ academic performance. TCIS has managed 16 campuses in San Antonio ISD, Longview ISD and Edgewood ISD. However, only five out of those campuses had a D or an F rating before being operated by the non-profit.
AISD Superintendent Segura said in a written statement to families on Thursday evening that the district remains confident that TCIS is capable of lifting student outcomes.
“While this response is disappointing, I want to assure you that this is not the end of the process,” Segura said in the statement. “TEA has explicitly invited Austin ISD to submit additional information to support and reinforce our application, and we fully intend to do so.”
If approved, the two-year 1882 agreement would allow the district to pause the accountability clock for these three schools. AISD and TCIS can still continue with the partnership, but if they choose to, the TEA said, Burnet, Dobie and Webb would not get the benefits of the 1882 agreement, including state funding and reprieve from state ratings.
When the partnership was approved during a board meeting in March, Segura said district officials were confident the TEA would approve it because they had talked with TCIS about expectations and had visited their schools. Segura said the district had also received feedback from the TEA about the plan and had adjusted the partnership accordingly.
“When we look at the timeline, we could see on May or June before we get a final approval. But we are not shy about asking questions and making adjustments where appropriate,” he said. “But if the agency does not accept after all of that we would appreciate the opportunity to make the adjustment, which is what we have seen them do.”
KUT reached out to the TEA to ask about when a final decision must be made, and has not heard back.
Ratings for the 2025-2026 school year have not yet been released. But in his message to parents Thursday, Segura said the district is seeing “promising accelerated student growth” across the district. He said district officials will continue advocating for a partnership.
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