Precursors East Mall Project : Site Activation

In partnership with MASS Design Group, the East Mall featured several site activations that familiarized the campus and visitors with the conceptualization and development of this commemorative space. Construction is underway.

The Precursors, Phase One
March 20–31, 2023

The first phase of the site activation ran from March 20–31, 2023, and included an interactive installation that remembered the early Black students at UT and shared some of their stories.

The Ecological Tableau of the East Mall, Phase Two
April 22, 2023

The second phase of the Precursors—We are Texas East Mall Project site activation involved a two-part walking tour event designed to help participants understand the ecological, geological, and cultural significance of the East Mall.

Explore & Learn More

The Precursors—We Are Texas East Mall is a commemorative space dedicated to the students, faculty, and staff members who helped the university along its historic path.

The first official cohort of Black students started undergraduate classes in Fall 1956 and are now referred to as The Precursors. The East Mall project will commemorate these precursors’ experiences as well as those of the other Black students in the early days of campus integration.

Explore the design process for this commemoration.