Sweatt v. Painter: Building the Gallery & Entry

Sweatt v. Painter : Building the Gallery & Entry

Building the Gallery & Entry

The Heman Marion Sweatt Celebrated Entrance and the Sweatt v. Painter Gallery were announced in 2020. In the fall of 2025, the construction and installation of these new campus commemorations were completed.

Exterior of an academic building entrance with an extended awning

Summer 2021 – SmithGroup Contracted to Design Sweatt v. Painter Commemorative Project

After a nationwide RFQ search, the University contracted SmithGroup architecture firm to design the new, ADA accessible Heman Marion Sweatt Entrance to T.S. Painter Hall as well as an interior commemorative gallery space just inside the new entry. The rendering shows early design drawings of the Sweatt entry as the new celebrated entrance on the southwest side of the building.

Three college professors stand on a campus sidewalk beside a display of three vinyl posters mounted on stands which are part of an outdoor history exhibit.

Fall 2023 – “Breaking Barriers” Site Activation

The “Breaking Barriers” site activation was a temporary art installation in front of Painter Hall that showcased Black agency at and in relationship to the University of Texas. It was organized around the early struggles of Black Texan Civil Rights leaders who helped Heman Sweatt to launch his historic lawsuit in collaboration with the NAACP lawyers, who were also highlighted. It also showcased some of the early Black graduate students, including the first Black graduate students who enrolled in summer school after Sweatt’s victory and the first fall class of Black law students who collectively opened the doors of the University to all Texans.

A worker dismantles an aging greenhouse with a sledge hammer in the midst of a courtyard under construction.

Summer 2024 – Groundbreaking Celebration at Project Site

Campus stakeholders, along with members from the design and construction teams, gathered together to “break ground” at the project site to kick-off the start of demolition and construction on the Sweatt v. Painter commemorative project.

A skid loader vehicle parked next to a pile of rubble in a courtyard under construction

Fall 2024 – Demolition and Construction on Project Begins

Demolition and clean up began at the site during the fall 2024 semester. After the site was cleared, demolition into the building to create the new ADA accessible celebrated entrance took place, and the interior space was cleared for the new commemorative exhibition gallery space.

Piles of lumber, other building materials and several work vehicles occupy a building courtyard under construction.

Spring 2025 – Project Construction Continues – New Celebrated Entry Takes Shape

Construction on the new Heman Sweatt celebrated entrance continued into the spring 2025 semester. The new entrance includes a new canopy structure with perforated paneling that uses sunlight during the day and lighting at night to cast a shadow of the following quote from Heman Sweatt on the ground: “The mind—must be stimulated by productive opportunity before it can possibly develop to its highest.”

Fall 2025 – Sweatt v. Painter Entry and Gallery Commemorative Project Complete

The Sweatt v. Painter Commemorative project is completed. The finished project reflects the hard work and dedication of many campus stakeholders and community members to celebrate and commemorate Heman Sweatt’s story and the process of racial integration at The University of Texas at Austin and higher education across the country.