UT Tower renovation work starting soon

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After standing prominently on Austin's skyline for nearly 100 years, the University of Texas announced Friday the UT Tower is about to undergo a multi-year renovation project. Starting in November, restoration work will begin on the exterior of the tower.

The work will restore the stone, windows, clockface, lighting and gilding on the building's facade. In an attempt to return to its original appearance, metal and wood surfaces will be repainted, along with fresh gilding to the clock. Exterior lighting will also be updated to an LED-based system.

"We want every UT student, faculty and staff member, and alum to have a sense of pride as they walk across the Forty Acres, and especially when they see the Tower restored to its former glory,” said UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife.

The work will last at least until the summer of 2027. The building will stay open during construction, but during that time, there will be scaffolding and what the school is calling a "decorative covering." The university said the tower will continue to be lit to celebrate athletic and academic accomplishments.

A rendering of what the building could look like in 2027 shows brighter stone, an enhanced golden clockface and bright gilding on windows and the top of the tower.

Restoration work will also include decluttering at the top of the tower, safety improvements to fall protection systems and renovating the 29th floor observation deck.

The project's official name is, "Our Tower: The Next 100 Years." The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved the $70 million budget for the project in August.