Thanks to a $50 million donation from Buc-ee’s owner Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, Texas A & M will soon start work on the Aplin Center, an academic center that will serve as an immersive learning laboratory for A & M students.

Houston-based Hines has been selected as the development manager to facilitate the T3 project. T3 is Hines’ new generation of heavy timber buildings that are focused on innovation, wellness and sustainability. The university will break ground in the fall.

The Aplin Center will offer a student experience through new university programs in hospitality, retail studies and food product development involving innovative degree programs including viticulture, fermentation processes, coffee and food science. Product development laboratories and food tasting areas will offer collaboration with industry and experiential learning opportunities for students.

The Aplin Center will include outdoor and indoor student recreational space, as well as retail and food service areas managed by students and faculty through the educational programs.