Written by Caitlin Graes
To quote our college president, "This is the most beautiful place you will probably ever live." The campus is small but beautiful, boasting a total of eight fountains (one of which is reserved for tossing your friends in on their birthdays). It is an enclosed, walking campus—the main road running through campus was closed decades ago, meaning no roads to deter from the beautiful campus—and the interior is entirely sidewalks and green space. You live in a park, essentially, with countless trees, manicured lawns, birds abound, highly intelligent squirrels, and constantly changing flower beds.
The heart of campus is the Wright Campus Center. This is where everyone comes to eat, get mail, study, attend organizational meetings, and just hang out with their friends. Students spend a most of their time here, and this is where the campus comes to life. The new jewel of campus is the IDEA Center, a new science building designed for interactive learning and interdisciplinary studies. It boasts 16 classrooms, 32 advanced laboratory-classrooms, a 108-seat auditorium, and an observatory. The center will house the departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, mathematics, and physics.
In the last few years, the school has also made additions to the north side of campus, including the Williams Intramural Complex, Russell Tennis Center, and Forster Art Complex. Another facility that Austin College boasts is The Lake Campus. A 25-minute drive from AC, Lake Campus is a 30-acre property on the Preston Peninsula at Lake Texoma. It is available to students, faculty, and staff year round.