“Did Jerry Junkins ever imagine his legacy would be etched in brick and mortar?” This is the Jerry R Junkins Electrical Engineering building at Southern Methodist University. It stands as a testament to a remarkable life and a significant contribution to the Dallas community and beyond.
The Jerry R Junkins Building isn’t just a building. It’s a symbol of innovation and partnership. The Junkins family initiated the project a tribute to Jerry’s memory. Others like Texas Instruments also generously contributed. The three-story 53800 square foot building sits near Airline Road and Dyer Street. It represents the strong bond between SMU and industry.
This building is more than just classrooms and labs. Think state-of-the-art facilities. It houses labs for optical electronics telecommunications and biomedical engineering. The classrooms are equipped with LAN and power connections. Students can download presentations share notes. Some classrooms boast modern distance learning equipment. This allows audio and video signals to be sent across the building or even via satellite.
Construction was part of The Campaign for SMU A Time to Lead. This campaign raised nearly $540 million. The building alone cost approximately $15 million. It’s impressive isn’t it? 93000 bricks 3157 cubic yards of concrete and 2800 pieces of cast stone went into its construction. It took 156000 person-hours.
The Jerry R Junkins Building is a place where future engineers learn and innovate. It reflects the vision of a man who dedicated his life to excellence. His impact continues to resonate in Dallas. The building serves as a lasting tribute to Jerry Junkins’ vision leadership and commitment to education. It stands as a powerful reminder that progress and innovation are built on strong foundations. And that foundation was laid by a man named Jerry Junkins.