A New Era in the Arts at UT Dallas
Multiphase cultural destination opens on campus
About
The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum is designed to enhance and enrich the arts on the UT Dallas campus by creating a 12-acre cultural district. It is supported by a $32 million gift from the O’Donnell Foundation.
Phases
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Phase I and the groundbreaking for Phase II will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Phase I serves as a second location for the Crow Museum of Asian Art, introduces the UT Dallas Art Museums and the Brettell Reading Room, and features a conservation studio, seminar room, museum shop, exhibition corridor, and lecture and event area.
Phase II, scheduled to be completed in 2026, will feature a 680-seat performance hall and music building and will seamlessly integrate with Phase I.
About the O’Donnells
Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. were passionate supporters of the arts and sciences throughout Texas. Their vision spurred UT Dallas’ transformation into a four-year university that excels across disciplines.
Visual Arts
Designed by Los Angeles-based architectural firm Morphosis, the new 58,000 square-foot facility will feature almost 18,000 square feet of dedicated exhibition space, more than doubling the Crow Museum’s current gallery space in the downtown Dallas Arts District.
Installation view, Indigo Threads gallery
Galleries
The Museum includes twelve galleries with eight dedicated to the Crow Museum of Asian Art. Additional spaces include storage facilities, conservation studio, object study room and classrooms.
Reading Room
The Brettell Reading Room is a quiet study and convening space in memory of the late Dr. Richard Brettell, founding director of the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History.
Performing Arts
Phase II: Elevating Musical Excellence
On Sept. 24, UT Dallas will break ground on the construction of a performance hall for the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.
The thoughtful design of the nearly 67,000-square-foot facility merges technology and acoustics to create an incredibly functional and intimate world-class stage for performers. Elevating the music program at UT Dallas, the new performance hall will support music students and faculty, attract top talent and serve as a destination for the best of arts and culture.
News & Events
Support
Your gift to the O’Donnell Athenaeum will help create a new world-class arts district in North Texas. Explore opportunities to contribute through named spaces, programmatic funding for student and faculty work, and support for exhibitions that bring global art and culture to our community.
Phase I
Leave a lasting legacy in the O’Donnell Athenaeum through naming opportunities in the Phase I museum.
Phase II
Help build the Phase II performance hall and music building and support the creative work of student artists.
Crow Museum of Asian Art
Explore ways to preserve and exhibit Asian art, culture and history at UT Dallas for generations.
Contact
To learn more about opportunities to support the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, contact Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations.