Dobie Center facts for kids
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The Dobie Center, named after J. Frank Dobie, is a tall building in Austin, Texas. It has 27 floors and is a private residence hall for students. It's located right next to the University of Texas at Austin campus. Besides being a home for students, Dobie Center also has a two-story mall with shops and places to eat.
Students living here can enjoy a swimming pool, a fitness center, and two sports courts. The building also has six elevators and a large cafeteria.
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Dobie Center's History
The Dobie Center was designed by J. & G. Daverman and Associates. It was finished in 1972. When it was built, Dobie Center became the tallest building in Austin. It took this title from the Texas State Capitol, which had been the tallest for almost 90 years! Dobie was also the first modern-style building on the UT campus.
In 1990, the building got a big update that cost about $10 million. Workers changed its outside look by removing the brick and showing the glass underneath. This was a major change! During this time, students who were supposed to live there had to stay in a hotel for a while.
On November 11, 2006, a small fire started on the pool deck. It was caused by a cigarette that wasn't put out properly. The fire caused about $600,000 worth of damage. Luckily, the fire stayed only on the pool deck and did not reach the student living areas. The old wooden deck was later replaced with a stronger concrete one. The pool deck reopened in April 2008.
The Dobie Mall Today
The Dobie Mall, which is part of the center, was also completely updated in the 1990s. Today, it's a busy place for students to hang out and shop. The mall has two floors of shops and food places. It even has a small chapel. The food court is very large, with space for 500 people and many different food stands.
In 2014, a company called Campus Evolution Villages started managing the Dobie Center. They began over $4 million in new updates. These updates included new floors, a refreshed cafeteria, and a better movie and game room. However, some students felt that the company did not keep all their promises during this time.
Student Life at Dobie
The Dobie Center often hosts fun events for its residents. These events can be small, like a book club on a specific floor, or larger events for everyone in the dorm.
Convenience and Facilities
Living at Dobie is very convenient for students. It's super close to The University of Texas campus. It also has a covered parking garage, which is helpful for students with cars.
For a while, Dobie was known for having problems with its elevators. Some students even got stuck for hours! But recently, the management worked hard to fix this. They replaced one of the old elevators, which has helped a lot.
There are also resident assistants (RAs) living on certain floors at Dobie. RAs are older students who help residents and organize activities. Dobie is also a good choice for international exchange students who need a place to stay for a short time.
Shops and Restaurants
Here are some of the shops and restaurants you can find inside the Dobie Center:
- Emiliano's Burrito Factory
- Dobie Market
- The Princeton Review
- Niki's Pizza
- Oma's Kitchen
- Army Recruiting Office
- Navy Recruiting Office
- Marines Recruiting Office
- Regus
- Subway
- Target
30°17′00″N 97°44′28″W / 30.28333°N 97.74111°W
| Preceded by Texas Capitol |
Tallest Building in Austin 1972—1984 112m |
Succeeded by One American Center |
