UT Architecture Library Renamed for John S. Chase
The Battle Hall library honors the state's first licensed Black architect following a $5 million gift.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Awards
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The University of Texas at Austin has dedicated the Architecture and Planning Library in Battle Hall to the late John S. Chase. The naming honor follows a $5 million gift from his family, recognizing his pathbreaking career as the first Black licensed architect in Texas.
Why it matters
The naming honors the legacy of a UT alumnus who broke professional barriers in Texas after earning his Master of Architecture here in 1952. His family's gift also secures ongoing financial support for future students within the School of Architecture.
The university received a $5 million donation for the naming, which includes a $1 million pledge for two endowments at the School of Architecture. The library resides in historic Battle Hall, a space originally designed in 1911.
The players
John S. Chase
He was the first Black licensed architect in Texas and a 1952 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
Anthony Chase
He is the son of John S. Chase who helped fund the library naming.
Dina Al-Sowayel
She is a donor who contributed to the library naming and architecture school endowments.
University of Texas at Austin
The public research university that owns and operates the architecture library in Battle Hall.
The details
The library dedication took place in Battle Hall, marking the permanent recognition of John S. Chase, who was the first Black licensed architect in the state. His son, Anthony Chase, and Dina Al-Sowayel provided the funding to support the naming and the creation of two new endowments. Chase's history with the institution began in 1950, and he later served as the first Black president of the Texas Exes in 1998-1999.
Timeline
John S. Chase enrolled at the university in 1950.
Chase earned his Master of Architecture from UT in 1952.
Chase served as president of the Texas Exes from 1998 to 1999.
The university held the library dedication ceremony on October 22, 2026.
The Texas Context
This dedication follows the university's 2018 acquisition of the Colored Teachers State Association building to preserve Texas civil rights history. The naming of the library acts as a permanent, institution-funded recognition of that same era of professional advancement.
Students and faculty at the School of Architecture now have access to the newly renamed facility in Battle Hall. The endowment funds will support future cohorts through new scholarship or academic programming, effective for the upcoming academic cycles.
The takeaway
The library naming marks a significant shift in campus recognition of Black professional leaders in Texas. Keep an eye on the UT School of Architecture's public announcements regarding the specific scholarship and program criteria to be established by the new $1 million endowment.
Further reading
For more on local recognitions and academic milestones, see our Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXAN.
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