We are calling upon our community to raise awareness, rally together, and object to the imminent demolition of UT Austin's Steve Hicks Social Work building (SHSSW), formally University Junior High (UJH), as well as its masterpiece mural and invaluable greenspace.

As one of four UT Austin campus buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, UJH holds immense historic and cultural significance. The building was constructed as a result of a local partnership between UT and Austin Public Schools (AISD) in 1933 to create a laboratory school to educate children and train teachers in innovative educational theory and practices. UJH was designed by distinguished architects Greene, LaRoche and Dahl, with Paul Phillippe Cret as consulting architect, and included innovative yet functional architectural features such as split levels, courtyard vistas and arcades. 

Although initially racially segregated, UJH was considered a model junior high school from its inception at the peak of the Great Depression. In 1957, it became the first integrated junior high in Austin. UJH officially closed in 1967 and served various functions under UT ownership until it was renovated as the School of Social Work in 1993. At that time, the SSW was led by Barbara White, the first African American to serve as a Dean at UT Austin.

In 1995, a distinguished local artist, Raul Valdez, was commissioned to create a mural in the grand staircase of the school. The mural, “Heart and Soul,” depicts scenes of social problems, injustice, resiliency, hope, and social work’s mission of social justice. It has provided inspiration for generations of social work students, scholars, university staff and visitors of the building. The mural is an artistic masterpiece and is unique among all the art installations on the UT campus.

The greenspace that surrounds UJH hosts a myriad trees, including several heritage oaks that are invaluable. Texas Athletics is proposing to raze the building, remove the heritage trees, and level the site in order to construct another football training facility. Recently constructed buildings, such as the Moody Center and maintenance facilities, have increased the impervious cover near UJH. If the current proposal is pursued, the project could adversely effect Waller Creek and potentially create environmental damage. Thus far, there is no indication that an environmental impact study will be conducted.

The short-sighted plan to demolish UJH would result in additional environmental impact due to waste generation from debris removal as well as increased carbon emissions associated with new construction materials and transportation. Furthermore, UT Austin has the opportunity to restore the existing structure and promote sustainable development practices aligned with its environmental sustainability initiatives.

It's no secret that UT Austin has struggled to reconcile its long history of social discrimination and local community erasure. In 1967, the UT applied for and received federal subsidies through urban renewal grants to expand research facilities east of Waller Creek. However, those funds were instead used to expand athletic facilities which resulted in the displacement of more than 350 families and numerous local businesses. Soon thereafter, in 1969, UT again expanded Memorial Stadium by removing heritage oaks and damaging the riparian zone along Waller Creek. Considering the legacy of UT athletic related expansion at the expense of the natural environment and local community culture, it is our hope that the current proposal will be halted and reevaluated.

The current plan for UJH as proposed by Texas Athletics will destroy this cultural symbol that represents educational innovation and its rich history of both racial segregation and early integration in Austin public schools. The proposal will destroy the "Heart and Soul" mural by Raul Valdez that serves as a significant visual landmark of social justice on the UT campus. The proposal will also destroy the serene and beautiful tree canopy that provides accessible greenspace on an increasingly urban campus.

By signing this petition, you are joining us in urging UT administration to reconsider the current proposal to demolish the SHSSW/UJH, destroy the masterpiece mural and raze the natural landscape. Lastly, the local community strongly urges UT Austin to pursue adaptive reuse of the building and emulate the principles of sustainable development that are needed for success in the 21st century.

For more information check out our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram @savethepastforthefuture

If you would like to get involved or support the preservation campaign, please contact savethepastforthefuture@gmail.com