Some historic Bhutanese Revival UTEP buildings could soon be gone

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The UT System Board of Regents just approved a new 10-year master plan for UTEP.

University President Heather Wilson presented the plan to the board Wednesday in Austin. Members passed the measure unanimously.

The board oversees 14 institutions, including UTEP, and 256,000 students. That makes the UT System the largest university system in the state.

PJ Vierra, a representative for the UTEP Heritage Commission, says that some of the buildings scheduled for demolition are historically significant.

"This UTEP campus master plan calls for demolishing several historically significant Bhutanese Revival buildings designed by noted Southwestern architect Henry Trost (Vowell Hall, Benedict Hall, and Worrell Hall) and Percy McGhee (Miners Hall, Hudspeth Hall, Union West), and O.J. Thorman (Holliday Hall). Union West was home to the acclaimed UTEP Dinner Theatre before its recent closure."

PJ Vierra, PhD
UTEP Heritage Commission

ABC-7 is trying to get more information on what UTEP's new plan entails.