Texas A&M University will receive a groundbreaking new academic facility thanks to a generous $50 million donation from Arch Beaver Aplin III, the founder of the beloved Texas convenience store chain Buc-ee's. The 200,346-square-foot Aplin Center, designed by architectural firms DLR Group and Pickard Chilton, will serve as the university's new front door when it opens in 2028. The three-story building will feature an innovative hybrid structural system combining concrete and mass timber construction, specifically designed for students pursuing degrees in hospitality, retail, food, and nutrition sciences.
Aplin, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1980 with a degree in Construction Science, joins an impressive list of distinguished university alumni that includes Super Bowl winner and design firm founder Michael Bennett, former Texas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, and country music legend Lyle Lovett. After founding his first convenience store in Lake Jackson, south of Houston, in 1982, Aplin has built Buc-ee's into a Texas institution famous for its expansive parking lots, exceptionally clean restrooms, competitive wages, extensive jerky selections, and its iconic beaver mascot sporting a signature red ball cap.
The architectural design of the Aplin Center reflects both modern innovation and traditional agricultural influences. The building consists of three distinct wings: a long volume set back from the road with two sections extending outward from it. The facade features large glass spans complemented by secondary masonry-clad panels, while the mass timber structure extends beyond the glazing at ground level. Upper-level windows provide clear views into the interior, showcasing the wooden beams and panels that define the building's sustainable construction approach.
The building's roof design incorporates both gabled and inverted gable forms that deliberately evoke traditional agricultural structures, while strategically placed dormers add height and allow natural light to flood the interior spaces. V-shaped columns supporting the overhanging roofs provide exterior hints of the mass timber structure that dominates the interior design. The three building volumes are situated on an expansive lawn where intersecting pathways clearly delineate entry points and connect to both the adjacent road and the broader campus beyond.
Inside the Aplin Center, the program has been carefully organized to maximize both functionality and collaboration. Public-facing areas, including an experiential retail space and culinary laboratory, occupy the lower level, while lounges, lecture halls, and study spaces are located on the upper floors. The expansive atrium showcases timber used for vertical structure, roof panels, and a social staircase above terrazzo flooring, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for students and visitors.
"Our design for the Aplin Center puts education on display, blending hospitality-inspired public zones with focused academic spaces to foster spontaneous engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration," explained Stephanie Spingler, senior associate and interior designer at DLR Group. The building will house teaching laboratories and research facilities for viticulture (grape cultivation and harvesting) and enology (winemaking science), along with hands-on classrooms dedicated to fermentation processes, coffee roasting, product development, food science, and hospitality management.
Beyond its academic mission, the Aplin Center will serve as a comprehensive welcome center for campus visitors. The facility will include a visitor center, a 170-seat theater, a 70-seat multipurpose space, and administrative offices to support campus hospitality functions. A restaurant and cafe are also planned within the building, ensuring that like a typical Buc-ee's store, the Aplin Center will pack numerous amenities into its substantial footprint.
Construction on the $250 million project is scheduled to begin this fall, with substantial completion targeted for February 2028. Aplin's $50 million naming gift anchors the project's funding, representing his commitment to giving back to his alma mater. The donation comes as Buc-ee's continues its aggressive expansion across the United States, growing from its Texas origins to 57 locations spanning Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Colorado, and Alabama, with additional locations planned in Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, Louisiana, Arizona, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Industry observers estimate that Buc-ee's generates between $2.5 billion and $5 billion in annual revenue, while Aplin and his co-founder Don Wasek maintain 100 percent ownership of the company. Students at Texas A&M are already getting a taste of the Buc-ee's experience, with campus markets now stocking the chain's popular branded snacks and merchandise, including the famous beaver nuggets that have become synonymous with Texas road trips.
As design work nears completion and construction preparations begin, university leadership is expressing high expectations for the project's impact. Robert Albritton, chairman of the university's Board of Regents, captured the anticipated enthusiasm by stating, "This one's going to be as popular as Beaver Nuggets." The Aplin Center represents not just a significant architectural addition to the Texas A&M campus, but also a lasting testament to the success of one alumnus who never forgot his educational roots.
