Work on the Fred D. Brown Jr. Residence Hall, the first building on campus to be named for an African American, began in May 2012, with completion set to allow move-in for fall semester 2014. When built, the 250,000-square-foot facility contained beds for 682 residents in two kinds of suite-style rooms and two dining options—Subway and Tortilla Fresca. It also had a post office, workout facility, recreation room, and a full catering kitchen. At the time of its completion, the Fred D. Brown Jr. residence hall was the first new dormitory to be constructed in 40 years. A frosted glass staircase over a tranquil water feature and LED lighting accented the lobby. Revenue bonds were issued to pay for the $59 million facility, with the bonds to be retired by residential charges. Architects for the facility were Cope and Associates and Ambrose Weeks McDonald, and the general contractor was Blaine Construction.
The UT Board of Trustees named the building for Brown, the first director of the College of Engineering’s Minority Engineering Scholarship Program (now the Office of Diversity Programs), in March 2013.