{{Short description|Residence hall on the University of Texas Austin campus}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Dobie Twenty21 | native_name_lang = | former_names = Dobie Center | image = Austin August 2019 02 (Dobie Center).jpg | address = 2021 Guadalupe Street | location_town = [[Austin, Texas]] | location_country = United States | coordinates = {{Coord|30.28342|-97.74125|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:US-TX}} | owner = [[University of Texas at Austin]] | floor_count = 27 | public_transit = {{bus icon}} [[CapMetro Bus]] 640 | building_type = Residential | elevator_count = 6 | architecture_firm = J. & G. Daverman and Associates | namesake = [[J. Frank Dobie]] | website = {{URL|https://housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls/residence-hall-locations/dobie-twenty21}} }}
'''Dobie Center''', named after [[J. Frank Dobie]], is a formerly privately owned 27-story [[Dormitory|residence hall]] located on the [[University of Texas at Austin]] campus. On October 12, 2021, the [[University of Texas]] announced it was purchasing the center to provide additional school-owned housing near campus for its students.<ref name="affordability"/> In addition to being a residence for students, Dobie contains a two-story [[shopping mall|mall]], restaurants, and specialty stores.<ref name="Dobie">{{cite news | url=http://www.dobiecenter.com/about.html | title=About | work=Dobie Center | accessdate=2006-11-10 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208002357/http://dobiecenter.com/about.html | archivedate=2007-02-08 }}</ref> [[File:2021 Guadalupe St-MLS Size-018-Fitness Center 656-1024x768-72dpi.jpg|thumb|Fitness center]] The property features a pool, fitness center, two sport courts, six elevators, and an industrial-styled cafeteria.
==History== [[File:2021 Guadalupe St-MLS Size-014-Exterior Front 681-1024x768-72dpi.jpg|thumb|left|A picture of the Dobie Center]] The building was designed by J. & G. Daverman and Associates in 1972. Upon its completion, Dobie Center was the tallest building in Austin, surpassing the [[Texas State Capitol]], which had held the title for nearly 90 years. Dobie was the first modernist building to exist on UT's campus.
The building underwent a US$10 million facelift in 1990 to replace its then brick [[Curtain wall (architecture)|façade]] by exposing the glass underneath.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dobie Center to get $10 million face lift |work=[[The Daily Texan]] |date=January 11, 1989}}</ref> When classes began in the Fall 1989 semester, would-be residents of Dobie Center were temporarily relocated to the Radisson Plaza Hotel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radisson to house some Dobie tenants |work=[[The Daily Texan]] |date=August 4, 1989}}</ref>
On November 11, 2006, a fire, started by an improperly extinguished cigarette,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/112180/20061116.txt?sequence=2&isAllowed=y |work=[[The Daily Texan]] |title=AFD finds Dobie fire started by cigarettes |first1=M.T. |last1=Elliott |date=November 16, 2006 |via=Texas ScholarWorks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122025151/https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/112180/20061116.txt?sequence=2&isAllowed=y |archive-date= Jan 22, 2023 }}</ref> broke out on the pool deck of Dobie Center causing an estimated $600,000 worth of damage. The pool deck reopened in late April 2008. The fire was contained to an area outside of the residential tower. This structure was an old wooden deck that has been replaced by a concrete structure.
The Dobie Mall was completely remodeled by the Nix Group in the '90s and is now a hub of student activity and shopping.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dobie Center |url=http://www.nixgrouparchitects.com/dobie.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915163715/http://www.nixgrouparchitects.com:80/dobie.html |archive-date=Sep 15, 2019 |website=Nix Group Architects}}</ref> The mall is a two-story shopping and food center featuring a food court, stores, and even a chapel. The food court today features seating for 500 and various assorted independently run food outlets. [[File:2021 Guadalupe St-MLS Size-022-Lobby 703-1024x768-72dpi.jpg|thumb|Dobie's Lobby]] In 2014 the Dobie Center became managed by Campus Evolution Villages, marking the start of over $4 million in renovations, including new hardwood floors, a cafeteria face-lift, and an updated movie and game room. However, there was controversy during this time due to allegations made by many students that Campus Evolution Villages did not uphold their end of a bargain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchholz |first=Jan |date=Apr 29, 2014 |title=UT's famed high-rise dorm where Dell launched to get $4 million makeover |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623170914/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html |archive-date=Jun 23, 2016 |website=Austin Business Journal}}</ref>
In October 2021, the University of Texas at Austin purchased Dobie Center for US$104 million.<ref name="affordability">{{Cite web|url=https://news.utexas.edu/2021/10/12/ut-austin-adds-student-housing-options-to-increase-campus-access-affordability/|title=UT Austin Adds Student Housing Options to Increase Campus Access, Affordability|date=12 October 2021 |website=UT News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531222333/https://news.utexas.edu/2021/10/12/ut-austin-adds-student-housing-options-to-increase-campus-access-affordability/ |archive-date= May 31, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Kaushiki |title=Students hope UT will improve living conditions at DobieTwenty21 apartments since purchasing the center |url=https://thedailytexan.com/2021/10/25/students-hope-ut-will-improve-living-conditions-at-dobietwenty21-apartments-since-purchasing-the-center/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=The Daily Texan |date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
On April 21, 2026 it was announced that Dobie Hall would be renamed Dell Hall, following [[Michael Dell]]'s $750 million donation to a planned expansion of the [[Dell Medical School]] at the [[J. J. Pickle Research Campus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aldridge |first=Olivia |date=2026-04-21 |title=UT announces new Dell Medical Center, research campus after $750 million gift |url=https://www.kut.org/health/2026-04-21/ut-austin-dell-medical-center-hospital-michael-susan-dell-foundation-donation |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station |language=en}}</ref> Whilst a UT student, Michael Dell, founder of [[Dell Technologies]], lived in room 2713 of what was then Dobie Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villalpando |first=Nicole |date=2026-04-21 |title=Dell $750M gift funds UT Austin medical center with AI, technology focus |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/healthcare/article/dell-gift-ut-austin-medical-center-ai-22212520.php |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |title=Michael Dell's view from the top |url=http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/archive/0502dell.html |date=2004-05-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607072747/http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/archive/0502dell.html |archive-date=2011-06-07}}</ref>
==Life at Dobie== The Dobie Center offers monthly resident events ranging from floor events to dorm-wide events, such as book club.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Additionally, [[The University of Texas]]'s campus and covered parking garage are draws for students looking for convenience. Dobie had been historically known for having recurring elevator problems, with many students having been trapped in elevators for multiple hours;{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} however, management recently{{When|date=June 2021}} took a major crack on the problem by replacing one of its three decade-old elevators.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
There is a resident assistant on every few floors at Dobie. Dobie is also known for being able to accommodate international exchange students who are looking for a short-term stay due to its low occupancy rate.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
==Notable people== [[File:Pool and chairs.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A view of Dobie's pool]] 2016 presidential candidate and former governor of Florida [[Jeb Bush]] lived in Dobie Center.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |title=In Texas, a Focused Jeb Bush Stood Out From the Crowd |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/jeb-bush-texas-years/ |date=2015-03-17}}</ref>
[[Daniel Johnston]], outsider singer-songwriter and artist, worked at a now-closed McDonalds in Dobie Mall, located in Dobie Center. He would, reportedly, hand out tapes of his album [[Hi, How Are You]] to people while working.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |title=Spotlight: Daniel Johnston |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2005-03-18/263348/ |date=2005-03-18}}</ref>
==Stores and restaurants== Some of the stores and restaurants inside Dobie Center include: *Emiliano's Burrito Factory *Dobie Market *[[The Princeton Review]] *Niki's Pizza *Oma's Kitchen *Army Recruiting Office *Navy Recruiting Office *U.S. Marine Corps Officer Selection Office *Regus *[[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] *[[Target Corporation|Target]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Dobie Center}} *[http://www.dobiecenter.com/ Dobie Center] *[http://www.landmarktheatres.com/ Landmark's Dobie Theater]
{{S-start}} {{Succession box| before=[[Texas Capitol]]| title=Tallest Building in Austin| years=1972—1984<br/><small>112m</small>| after=[[One American Center]]}} {{S-end}}
{{Portal bar|Architecture}}
[[Category:University of Texas at Austin buildings and structures]] [[Category:University and college residential buildings in Texas]] [[Category:Shopping malls in Austin, Texas]] [[Category:Residential skyscrapers in Austin, Texas]] [[Category:University and college buildings and structures completed in 1972]] [[Category:1972 establishments in Texas]]