Precursors East Mall Project : Design Process
The Precursors We are Texas East Mall project was announced in 2020. This commemorative project seeks to honor the first class of Black undergraduates to attend The University of Texas at Austin in Fall 1956. Construction on the project began in May 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2027.
View the original Precursors We are Texas East Mall Project visioning plan.
Learn more about the planning, design, and construction process for the Precursors We are Texas East Mall project.
Project Site Activations
In partnership with MASS Design Group, the East Mall featured several site activations to familiarize the campus and visitors with the conceptualization and development of this commemorative space.
Learn more about each site activation.
Building the Commemoration
Construction of the Precursors We are Texas East Mall project began in May 2024.
Learn more about the design process and current construction updates.
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.
MASS Design Group activations help familiarize camps and visitors in the conceptualization and development of this commemorative space.
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.