Campus of Texas A&M University

The campus of Texas A&M University is situated in College Station, Texas, USA.

Of the over 200 buildings on the Texas A&M University campus, the most recognized include the Academic Building, Albritton Bell Tower, the Administration Building, the George Bush Presidential Library, Kyle Field, the Memorial Student Center (MSC), and the Texas A&M University Libraries.

The Academic Building stands at the crossroads of the campus. Completed in 1914, it stands on the site of Old Main, the first campus building, which burned to the ground in 1912. Its most notable feature is its copper dome, which is green with oxidation, much like the Statue of Liberty. The practice of polishing the dome was stopped due to the danger the glare posed for pilots landing at nearby Easterwood Airport. When it was constructed, it was one of the first buildings on campus to use rebar. Its architect, A&M Professor F. E. Giesecke knew little about reinforced concrete, "so [he] just figured out the amount of steel...necessary and doubled it."^[1] The result was an extremely durable building so filled with steel that it could withstand a nearby nuclear blast and required blowtorches to later add piping for water fountains.^[1] In front of the Academic Building is the Academic Plaza, which is the site of a wide range of campus events, most notably Silver Taps.^[1][2]

Donated to Texas A&M University and dedicated on October 6, 1984 by Martha and Ford D. Albritton, the Albritton Tower is 138 feet (40 m) tall and contains 49 Westminster carillon bells, the largest of which weighs more than ^{[undue weight? – discuss]}. The bells ring every quarter hour and are also programmed to play music such as The Spirit of Aggieland, patriotic songs, and hymns.^[3][4]

The Administration Building is the centerpiece of the main entrance to Texas A&M University. For many years home to all of Texas A&M's administrative offices, the Jack K. Williams Administration Building opened its doors in 1932, and continues to house several Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University System offices and agencies. Designed by Professor C.S.P. Vosper and built by Campus Architect F.E. Giesecke, the monumental classical structure's features include intricate Ionic columns, polished brass handrails along its marble staircases and stained-glass windows. In 1997, the building was officially named after former Texas A&M University president Jack Williams to honor his work in increasing enrollment while preserving the traditional aura of the campus.^[5][6]

One of the most prominent architectural features of the campus is the Kyle Field, also known as The Home of the 12th Man. In the fall of 1904, Edwin Jackson Kyle, an 1899 graduate of Texas A&M and current professor of horticulture, fenced off a section of the southeast corner of campus that had been assigned to him for agricultural use. Using $650 of his own money, he purchased the covered grandstand from the Bryan fairgrounds and built wooden bleachers to raise the seating capacity to 500 people.^[7][8] After the first World War, the stadium was dedicated as a living memorial to the Aggies who died in the war. On game days 55 American flags, one for each Aggie killed, fly around the highest points of the stadium.^[9] In 1921, the November game between the Aggies and their archrival the University of Texas at Kyle Field became the first college football game to offer a live, play-by-play broadcast, on station W5AC.^[10]

Over the years, the modest wooden bleachers were expanded to a three deck concrete stadium with a capacity of 82,600, currently the largest football venue in Texas.^[11] Other features of the stadium and surrounding area include the Bright Football Complex, an award-winning natural grass field,^[12] the Texas A&M Sports Museum, the award-winning press box, and the second largest video board in college athletics and one of the ten largest in the world^[13]. Kyle Field is often regarded as one of the most intimidating college football stadiums in the nation. CBS Sportsline listed Kyle Field as the nation's best with a perfect score in three categories (atmosphere, tradition, and fans).^[14]

For more than 50 years, the Memorial Student Center (MSC) has been a living memorial, a living room, and a living tradition at Texas A&M University. Dedicated on Muster Day in 1951, the building is dedicated to all Aggies, past or future, who have given their lives in wartime.^[15] Because the building and grounds are a memorial, those entering the MSC are asked to remove their hats and not walk on the surrounding grass lawns.^[16]

On the main floor of the MSC is the Flagroom, a large, flag-lined room which students use for meetings, visiting, napping, and studying. The MSC also contains a bookstore, a post office, three art galleries, three dining facilities, and a seventy room hotel. Additionally, the MSC contains many meeting rooms and is the home of numerous student committees "that provide an array of educational, cultural, recreational and entertainment programs for the Texas A&M community."^[15]