UTSA announced Wednesday that it plans to demolish the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) building and relocate the museum to a temporary site.
The move comes following a three-year process the university undertook to determine the best use for the land at Hemisfair and to support the future museum.
That effort led to the University of Texas Board of Regents in February giving UTSA conditional approval to have exclusive discussions with the City of San Antonio to buy or lease its ITC property, which makes up roughly 13.5 acres in Hemisfair.
Any deal could clear the way for a “potential downtown revitalization project,” a move that heightened speculation that the property could be used as a new downtown home for the San Antonio Spurs.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said that the university remains committed to retaining and advancing the museum through its centennial in 2068, but that the demolition of the ITC building was key to that plan.
“To realize that important future, we must proceed on a thoughtful path forward to maximize current opportunities that will allow us to properly preserve the museum’s current exhibits while building a new museum that will serve and educate visitors for decades to come,” Eighmy said in a statement.
The ITC’s current home was built as the Texas State Exhibits Pavilion for the 1968 World’s Fair and was repurposed in 1973 as a university-based museum showcasing the state’s many distinct cultures.
Redeveloping the land at Hemisfair “will best serve the future of the museum, the university and the community,” the statement from UTSA said. “To accomplish highest use of the land requires removal of the Texas Pavilion.”
Relocating to Frost Tower
Plans call for moving the museum to the first floor of Frost Tower, 110 W. Houston St., where it will remain for the next five years as the university pursues constructing a permanent space.
The Frost Tower location will offer “an engaging museum experience and will leverage nearby cultural assets, including the San Pedro Cultural Creek Park, to enhance the visitor experience,” the statement said.
The museum will close in May and its objects and archives not on display will be put in storage.
Last fall, the university released a report that identified four potential areas for relocating the museum, including property at 320 Bonham near Alamo Plaza as a desirable site for the museum. UTSA entered into a memorandum of understanding with the city and 1859 Historic Hotels, owners of the Crockett Hotel, to potentially build on what is currently a hotel parking lot.
The university has since completed its due diligence on the hotel property as a viable location for the museum, “an option that could allow the university to tap into the 2.5 million guests who visit the Alamo each year, bringing in more visitors to experience the ITC’s collection,” read the statement.
The UTSA Southwest Campus, 1123 Navarro St., is being considered as an alternate site.
“We are thrilled to have such exciting options for locations that will help to establish a deeper connection to our community,” stated Heather Shipley, UTSA interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.
In 2021, a committee of civic leaders and experts delivered a report that outlined key issues with the ITC building, including a $28 million bill for deferred maintenance and an estimated $2 million per year for ongoing maintenance.
The facility in its current state “does not meet [the] American Association of Museums accreditation standard,” the report stated, which limits the institution’s access to touring exhibitions, among other issues.
A piece of history
Earlier this year, the Texas Historical Commission panel ruled that the Institute of Texan Cultures is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Though UTSA had opposed a request by the Conservation Society of San Antonio to add the 1968 building to the National Register, the state’s historic preservation officer last month forwarded the nomination to the National Park Service.
While a National Register listing offers recognition of a property’s historical or architectural significance and signifies that it is worthy of preservation, it does not stop private owners from demolishing the structure.
UTSA’s announcement stated that it plans to honor the Texas Pavilion architect, William “Willie” M. Peña, at both Hemisfair and at the new museum.
“The ITC museum is an important part of San Antonio’s history and means so much to our community,” stated Veronica Salazar, UTSA executive vice president for Business Affairs and chief enterprise development officer. “By maximizing the benefits of the land, we can support the best future for the museum.”
