West Campus, Austin, Texas
Encyclopedia
West Campus is a neighborhood in central Austin
, Texas
west of Guadalupe Street (the Drag) and its namesake, The University of Texas at Austin
. Due to its close proximity to the university, West Campus is heavily populated by college students. The area is known for its pastel colored residential buildings.
West Campus area’s architecture is diverse, with 80-year-old buildings often found next door to modern condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size.
This neighborhood is marked by the wide range of student organizationshttp://www.studentorgs.utexas.edu and Greek communities http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/ that occupy it. West Campus is home to more than 50 Greek organizations, more than 12 co-ops, organized by the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC) http://www.iccaustin.coop, and many other student organizations.
The biggest changes to West Campus in recent years have come about as a result of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) Plan http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/ca_p116_146.pdf, a city initiative passed in 2004. The UNO plans were:
"intended to help create a residential district that is close to the campus, consolidating some of the student housing that is presently scattered throughout the city, and thereby reducing transient student traffic to campus from outside, and reducing the transient parking requirements around West Campus."
The plan seeks to bring University of Texas students closer to campus, as well as create a denser, urban environment in order to provide more space for the growing student population.
The eastern boundary of West Campus is a major commercial area known as "The Drag" or Guadalupe Street, where clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores (including the University COOP), and venues are across the street from the University.
Due to the proximity of the West Campus area to the University, it is close to University facilities such as the Blanton Museum of Art
, the Harry Ransom Center, and the LBJ Library. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
, which features an IMAX
theater, is also nearby as well. Pease Park
is on the western border at Lamar Boulevard.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
west of Guadalupe Street (the Drag) and its namesake, The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. Due to its close proximity to the university, West Campus is heavily populated by college students. The area is known for its pastel colored residential buildings.
West Campus area’s architecture is diverse, with 80-year-old buildings often found next door to modern condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size.
This neighborhood is marked by the wide range of student organizationshttp://www.studentorgs.utexas.edu and Greek communities http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/ that occupy it. West Campus is home to more than 50 Greek organizations, more than 12 co-ops, organized by the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC) http://www.iccaustin.coop, and many other student organizations.
The biggest changes to West Campus in recent years have come about as a result of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) Plan http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/ca_p116_146.pdf, a city initiative passed in 2004. The UNO plans were:
"intended to help create a residential district that is close to the campus, consolidating some of the student housing that is presently scattered throughout the city, and thereby reducing transient student traffic to campus from outside, and reducing the transient parking requirements around West Campus."
The plan seeks to bring University of Texas students closer to campus, as well as create a denser, urban environment in order to provide more space for the growing student population.
The eastern boundary of West Campus is a major commercial area known as "The Drag" or Guadalupe Street, where clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores (including the University COOP), and venues are across the street from the University.
Due to the proximity of the West Campus area to the University, it is close to University facilities such as the Blanton Museum of Art
Blanton Museum of Art
The Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art is the art museum and research center of the University of Texas at Austin. Formerly under the College of Fine Arts, the museum director now reports to the University's...
, the Harry Ransom Center, and the LBJ Library. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, is a history museum in Austin, Texas. The museum is a division of the Texas State Preservation Board. Its stated mission is to tell "the Story of Texas."...
, which features an IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater, is also nearby as well. Pease Park
Pease Park
Pease Park is a public park in central Austin, Texas.Open from early morning until 10:00 PM, the park is frequented by University of Texas at Austin students and disc golf enthusiasts. Every spring, it plays host to the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party celebration, a favorite event for Austin's...
is on the western border at Lamar Boulevard.