The University of Texas at Austin Moody Center
A world-class entertainment venue to establish Austin as a major destination becomes an on campus hub
Project Facts
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Owner | The University of Texas System |
| Size | 475,000 SF |
| Cost | $245 million |
| Status | Completed 2022 |
| Certifications | LEED Gold |
Overview
Walter P Moore, in partnership with Martinez Moore Engineers, provided structural engineering for the Moody Center, the new home for the University of Texas’ (UT) men’s and women’s basketball programs and a major entertainment venue for Austin. Replacing the aging Frank C. Erwin Center, the project required embedding a large portion of the arena below grade to preserve Capitol View Corridor protections. The result is a flexible, high-performance venue designed to host both NCAA games and large-scale touring events.
Services
Challenges
Sloping Site Geometry
The 40-50 feet slope of the site forced the building to step down into the terrain while keeping critical floor elevations aligned for circulation, loading access, and plaza-level activity.
Preserving Capitol Views
Strict height restrictions meant the arena had to be embedded deep into the site—placing the event floor roughly 70 feet below the high-grade entrance and compressing structural zones.
Heavy Plaza Over Loading Structure
A 20,000-square-foot loading dock required long-span framing below a heavily loaded public plaza. With columns spaced 85 feet apart, the deck system had to achieve both strength and serviceability.
Complex Roof Structure
The architect’s “hill country” roof design required cantilevers up to 75 feet and a thin profile that could support rigging, a retractable scoreboard, and tension-wire grid.
Event Flexibility
The arena had to transform between concerts and sporting events, meaning the structure had to support additional rigging loads, retractable screens, and integrated MEP systems.
Solutions
Structural Strategy
We designed the bowl structure primarily in concrete to stabilize the deep excavation and support the underground seating geometry while optimizing lateral load paths.
Long-span Plaza Framing
Six-foot deep post-tensioned concrete girders reduced plaza weight and delivered efficient load transfer across the 85-foot dock spans, supporting both the plaza and select roof columns.
Efficiency Through Innovation
A two-way W36 girder system stiffened the long spans and let longer cantilevers “lean” on shorter ones through the orthogonal grid—achieving the thin architectural roof edge.
Flexible Infrastructure
Under seat air distribution was incorporated directly into precast seating units, improving comfort and efficiency while simplifying coordination.
Results
A Prime Destination
The Moody Center quickly established itself as a top-tier venue, hosting major touring acts and reinforcing Austin’s reputation as a live entertainment destination.
Elegant, Economical Design
The roof’s grillage system enabled thinner, lighter steel members, achieving the architect’s floating aesthetic while maintaining structural economy.
First-of-Its-Kind Adaptability
The kinetic bowl-closure system allows rapid transition between a 10,000-seat arena for basketball games, to a 15,000-seat concert venue, maximizing scheduling and revenue.
Sustainability Achievement
The project earned LEED Gold, reflecting efficient systems, performance-focused design, and responsible material strategies, ranking it among the most sustainable arenas in the United States.
Project Team Leaders
