About this property
University Junior High School (formerly the School of Social Work Building) was a historic Spanish Revival-style structure on the University of Texas at Austin campus in Austin, Texas. Opened in 1933 as a joint project between the university and the Austin Independent School District, the school served both as a public junior high school and as a laboratory school for the university's Department of Education until 1967, when the school was closed and the facility turned over to UT. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. University Junior High later gained historical significance as one of Austin’s first desegregated schools, contributing to the city’s civil rights history. The building formerly housed the UT Child Development Center, which relocated after breaking ground on a new facility in 2021. Following the spring of 2024, the Steve Hicks School of Social Work vacated the historic building as part of a relocation plan by the university that cited the aging building’s inadequacies and a partnership with UT Athletics, which pledged $10 million to address systemic homelessness—a commitment later revealed to lack formal agreements or specific plans. Controversy arose when the university announced plans to demolish the building to construct a new football practice facility, citing modernization needs and proximity to athletic headquarters. The proposal sparked widespread criticism from local preservation advocates, including faculty, alumni, and grassroots coalitions such as "save the past for the fUTure", who argued that the building represents an irreplaceable cultural and historical landmark. Efforts to save the structure culminated in its designation as a State Antiquities Landmark on July 26, 2024 by the Texas Historical Commission, temporarily adding legal hurdles to demolition plans. However, the university ultimately obtained a demolition permit in September 2024. Demolition began shortly after the permit was granted, and the site will be transformed into a modern athletic complex with indoor and outdoor practice fields, a sprint track, and parking facilities. While the university committed to preserving the building’s memory through photography, a documentary, and salvaged architectural elements, critics argued that such measures fell short of meaningful preservation. The battle to preserve University Junior High School represents a broader struggle over the preservation of Austin’s history amid rapid urban development and raised critical questions about the role of public institutions in safeguarding cultural heritage. It remains emblematic of the challenges faced by historic landmarks in rapidly growing cities.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about University Junior High School
This page lists University Junior High School. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was University Junior High School listed on the National Register?
University Junior High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 2001.
What type of historic resource is University Junior High School?
University Junior High School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for University Junior High School?
The period of significance for University Junior High School is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1933.
Can I research the history near University Junior High School?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near University Junior High School will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Travis County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Travis County.
Explore TravisCounty ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near University Junior High School will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.