ASU museum approved for $7.9 million expansion

Angelo State University's Mayer Museum has been approved by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents for two expansion projects, according to a news release.

In May, the Board of Regents approved a $4.5 million, single-story expansion to the southwest corner of the museum at 2501 W. Ave. N. Construction has begun on the approximately 4,500-square-foot expansion. It will house a large general use/events space, a café, restrooms, support spaces and in-wall display cases for exhibits.

The second $3.4 million expansion project features a nearly 2,400-square-foot, single-story addition to the west side of the museum that will house a new open gallery space for traveling and permanent exhibits.

The two projects are being primarily funded by additional gifts from longtime ASU supporters Richard and B.J. Mayer, who previously funded construction of the original $17 million Mayer Museum.

"We continue to be amazed by the generosity of Richard and B.J. Mayer and their commitment to supporting Angelo State," ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. said.

"The new additions will make the museum an attractive site for campus and public events, as well as greatly enhance our ability to both entertain and educate the Ram Family and the community," Hawkins said. "The museum and these new additions are awesome examples of what we can accomplish with the support of outstanding friends like the Mayers, and we couldn't be more grateful."

Originally opened in May 2021, the museum already houses a main exhibit floor, a large exhibit gallery, smaller exhibit rooms and a Kid's Cave children's area.

The museum is also home to the ASU West Texas Collection. It also supports ASU student art programs with classrooms, specialized labs for graphic design, sculpture and ceramics and student gallery space.

The Mayer Museum is open free to the public and is open weekly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and will remain open during the construction of the new additions.

"The expansion of the museum provides an opportunity to add more depth to not only the collection, but how Angelo State University can use its resources to promote community-minded events," Bekah Coleman, curator, said. "To have a museum like the Mayer Museum that can be open for free and serve a community is special.

"To increase the use of those aspects to include hands-on workshops and camps, or outreach and more exhibits is exactly what San Angelo and its surrounding area needs. Learning is a life-long adventure. Angelo State University acknowledges and supports the ideology that learning is something that should be offered to everyone, and the Mayer Museum is the face of that idea."

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This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State museum getting $7.9 million expansion