If you’ve stepped foot on our Odessa campus or driven down 42nd street, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the beautiful glass building that sits next to the Mesa. The D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center, more commonly known as “The Kirk,” is the newest building on campus - opening its doors in fall 2020.
The Kirk houses the next generation of healthcare professionals, social workers, community health leaders, scientists, and thought-leaders. It is also a home to student-athletes, representing 14 different sports. The state-of-the-art facility has classrooms, lab spaces, and technology necessary to give UT Permian Basin students and athletes the best tools to excel. At a total project cost of $37 million, the building covers 63,717 square feet.
All of us can see what Texas Tech has done for Lubbock, Texas A&M for College Station, and that’s what UTPB will do for Odessa in years to come.
- Kirk Edwards
You can’t talk about The Kirk without mentioning the namesake: Kirk Edwards. Kirk is a longtime friend of the University and is passionate about what UTPB provides to our region.
“To me, UTPB is one of the great economic engines Odessa and the Permian Basin will have for decades and centuries into the future, “said Kirk Edwards, University donor and supporter. “All of us can see what Texas Tech has done for Lubbock, Texas A&M for College Station, and that’s what UTPB will do for Odessa in years to come. As Odessa and the Permian Basin transition from oil and gas over the next 50-100 years, the University will still be here and be the shining star for this part of Texas.”
A native Odessan, Edwards helped spearhead the creation of the Falcon Football program, forever changing the landscape of Falcon Athletics. Years later, he’s excited to see how The Kirk has helped transform our campus.
“I think The Kirk building has really given UTPB its first outwardly facing building to welcome both the students and the community to the campus. It has been a thrill to see so many events taking place in and around the building and becoming a focal point for so many things in the community and campus. I am also extremely pleased with the way student-athletes are drawn to it and are proud of it. It’s a positive decision point for them to come and play sports at UTPB,” said Edwards.
Edwards shares that he’s looking forward to more students choosing UTPB as the University continues to grow and transform.
“I think UTPB has now become a first-choice of so many kids in their decision for higher learning. With the accreditations of so many academic departments and the fact that football and other sports are not only competitive, but champions in their respective areas, it has given the students a sense of pride to belong to this University. We should all be proud of what UTPB has grown into over the last 50 years, and just imagine what it will be like after another 50.”
